E 



LECTRO-BIOLOGY; 



Oft THE 



DOCTRINE OF IMPRESSIONS, 

CONSIDERED 

UPON THE TRUE PRINCIPLES 



OP 



REASON.NATURE AND PHILOSOPHY 



BY 



JOHN A V WB0E, M. D 



AND 



JOHN BUD. 1C. D^ 




MAN ACTS BY ELE C TRICITY. — Since. 



WEVEETON, MD, 

1850. 







Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by 
John A. Wroe, iM. D., and John Reid, M. D., in the Clerk's Office 
of the District Court of Maryland. 



STEREOTYPED BY 
EDWARD F. WILLIAMS, 

No. 3 Bank Lane, 



BALTIMORE. 



JAMES YOUNG, PRINT. 
BALTIMORE. 



PREFACE. 



2 ¥ 



Like all other mighty truths that have from time to 
time been brought to light, the Science of Electro- 
Biology has had to battle its way through the preju- 
dices, the illiberality and the combined opposition of 
the ignorant, the selfish, and all whose interests would 
be affected by any change, from the "ancient order of 
things." At this day of its existence, however, it is 
•eginning to engage the serious attention of the litera- 
ry and scientific, wherever its principles have been 
properly set forth by its advocates, and we are not 
now called upon to give new facts to illustrate its im- 
portant truths. History, both sacred and profane, is 
replete with them. Every periodical having any pre- 
tensions to scientific repute, is filled with them. They 
crowd around the social circle and the family fireside. 
They are met with in the every day business of life — 
in church and in state — in religion and in politics — in 
law and in physic — everywhere. 

But it is a privilege we claim of having examined 



4 PREFACE. 

more minutely than heretofore, the mysterious links 
of the invisible chain, that binds them all together in 
one harmonious group, and shows the beauty, sim- 
plicity and wisdom of its construction. It is a dis- 
covery we claim, to have reconciled under the doc- 
trine op impressions by Electrical agency, as 
found in animated, spiritualized being, the discordant 
opinions of those who profess to teach Electro-Biology ; 
some of whom account for its phenomena in one way, 
and some in another, whilst others, a numerous class, 
entirely ignorant of its principles, go through the rou- 
tine of the practice, merely for pecuniary advantage. 

To many valuable authorities, we are much in- 
debted in the preparation of this treatise ; but as most, 
if not all of them, are named in the text, and as their 
names stand high in the lists of fame, and carry with 
them conviction wherever they are known, it is not 
required that further acknowledgements should be 
made here. 

The sole object, by which we are induced to submit 
our views to the test of public scrutiny, is the advance- 
ment of truth ; the proper and scientific application of 
agencies, that have existed from all time, to the relief 
of human misery ; the eradication of error and the ex- 
posure of humbuggery in a science so important in its 
bearings to the welfare of man. Instead, therefore, of 



PREFACE. 5 

clothing it in all the superstition of ancient priests and 
sorcerers ; instead of concealing it under the charms, 
chants and incantations of magicians, jugglers and 
mountebanks ; instead of associating it with all the 
mysterious manipulations and the subtle trickery of 
pawing the air of modern pretenders, it has been our 
constant aim to render the subject as intelligible as the 
nature of the case would permit, so that " he that 
runs can read," and the humblest capacity understand. 

THE AUTHORS. 



CONTENTS 



LECTURE I. 

Introduction. — Ancients knew little of Electricity. — Their 
mode of healing by charms, &c, all the result of Impression. 

— Atomic motion produced by the passions. — Sensations 
communicated by Electrical agency through the nerves. — 
Cumulation of nervous energy and negative condition of 
rnind. — The system ever producing Electrical currents, &,c. 

LECTURE II. 

Electricity and galvanism. — Electricity known to the 
ancients. — Thales, the discoverer. — Its modifications. — 
Galvanism discovered by Galvani. — The Voltaic theory 
and pile. — Simple Galvanic circuit. — Compound circuit. 

— The poles. — Galvanic trough and battery. — Nature of 
the fluid little known. — Resemblance and difference be- 
tween Electricity and Galvanism. — Decomposing power 
of Sir H. Davy's battery. — Various experiments. 

LECTURE III. 

Magnetism. — Anecdote. — Natural magnets.— Artificial mag- 
nets. — Poles. — Magnetic and Geographical poles of the 
earth. — Compound magnets. — Magnetism a fluid. — The- 
ory of atomic Magnetism. — Electro-Magnetism. — New 
theory of gravitation. — Orders of Electricity. — Their in 
fluence in producing the motions of the earth, planets, &e. 



g CONTENTS. 

LECTURE IV. 

A sketch of the human body. — The spiritual body. — The 
connecting link. — Experiment of Dubois. — A real living, 
self-acting Galvanic battery. — Two different surfaces col- 
lecting and giving out different forces. — An Electro- Mag- 
netic machine. — Secondary currents, &c. — Various philo- 
sophical experiments, showing that all the functions of life 
are carried on by Electricity. 

LECTURE V. 

Elective and directive affinity of mind. — Active and 
passive portions of brain. — Motion and thought inseparable, 
except the motion of nutrition. — Laws of insulation. — 
Process of inducing the Magnetic state. — Method of operat-* 
ing. — Application to disease. — Motion and its effects. — Man 
not an isolated being. — Nature of the brain. — Discrimina- 
tion of vibrations. — Special cerebral motion. — Philosophy 
of seeing ghosts. — Motion from within and motion from 
without. 

LECTURE VI. 

Object of sitting. — Negative state of mind. — Portions of 
the brain Magnetized. — Anecdote of the Irishman and In- 
dian. — The Magnetic state but a fragment of Impressions. 
Mesmerism. — Clairvoyance. — Miracles. 



LECTURE I 



Introduction. — Ancients knew little of Electricity. — Their mode 
of healing by charms. 8fc.,all the result of Impression. — Atomic 
motion produced by the passions. — Sensations communicated by 
Electrical agency through the nerves. — Cumulation of nervous 
energy and negative condition of mind. — The system ever pro- 
ducing Electrical currents, fyc. 

In opening the volume of history, what changes and 
migHty revolutions do we trace on its ample pages. 
Here we see the rise and fall of nations, and mark 
the dread conflict between light and darkness. But 
this is not I he time nor the occasion, for us to turn i(s 
mystic leaves and follow man back through a long 
line of centuries, and point you to (he different eta 
that have marked his progress. Age after age has been 
stamped with the impress of his genius and power, and 
tells the resistless force of the inquiring mind. But the 
subjects we are about to present for consideration, ore 
only seen on history's mirrored page, in the dim out- 
lines of twilight and shadow. The science of Electro- 
Biology is the legitimate offspring of modern discovery, 
though evidences of its unknown power, have existed 
in every age and every nation. But mantled in the 
mists and vapors of superstition, an ignorant people 
ascribed many phenomena arising from this source to 
the workings of the dread powers of the invisible 
world. 



1() ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

Innumerable are the instances recorded by both the 
sacred and profane historian of its manifestations. 
The divining cup, spoken of in Genesis, whose manner 
of use is wholly unknown to us ; the powers of the 
Magi ; the ancient mode of healing ; the blessings and 
cursings of the Fathers, are but so many exhibitions 
of its powers. But Electricity, apart from its vital 
connexions, as presented in the motions of life and the 
phenomena of impressions was even unknown to them. 
The sages of spiritual Greece looked upon the thun- 
der as the voice of Jupiter and the lightning as his 
resistless bolt. If perchance, during a thunder storm, 
Patrician Rome saw the electric spark play upon the 
soldier's^spear, it was at once viewed as a manifestation 
of divine aid in their behalf. If such were the crude 
notions entertained by the ancients of the more mani- 
fest operations of this subtle fluid, what could have 
been their knowledge of its silent and mysterious 
agency in the mutations of nature, as seen in the 
formation of the primitive rock, or displayed in the 
structure of man ? 

So little was known of the laws that govern man in 
his relations to the earth, and the causes of health and 
disease, that all things were more or less mingled with 
superstition and credulity. Hence the wonderful im- 
portance, so frequently attached to the most trifling 
circumstance — the circumstance seeming to be the ap- 
parent cause, became the ascendant, and formed the 
basis of their reasoning, while the real cause was oc- 
cult. Thus a system of false reasoning was established 
and has continued even to the present day. 

Naaman went to Elisha evidently under the im- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 1 1 

pression that he was to be healed after the manner or 
mode, as practiced in his own country, for we are told 
that when his chariot stopped at the door of the pro- 
phet, Elisha sent out a messenger to him, saying <l Go 
wash in the river Jordan seven times and thy flesh 
shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be healed. " 
Mark Naaman's reply— I do not allude to that part 
of his objection, as to the rivers of Pharpar, Abana, &c, 
but he was evidently disappointed and looked upon 
Elisha as a quack for having departed from the es- 
tablished practice— for says he, ft I thought surely he 
would come out to me, and stand and call upon the 
name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand 
over the place, and the leper be healed." Bear in 
mind that Naaman was a distinguished man, a captain 
of Syria's host, and that practice, which he pa- 
tronised, was the fashionable, the accredited practice 
of the day, and that practice was the laying on of 
hands. 

The heathen magi, uniting the offices of priest and 
physician, and practicing successfully, this mode of 
healing acquired so great a reputation that they were 
deified after death, having idol statues, shaped in their 
likeness, to which divine honors were paid. It may 
readily be conjectured, under such circumstances, how 
they managed to maintain their ascendancy, and thus 
gain unbounded sway over the minds of the multitude. 

It is difficult to fix the period when remedies were 
first applied. The personal feelings of the sufferer must 
have suggested the different modifications of heat and 
cold, moisture and dryness in the earliest periods of 
the human race. Yet these were never applied with- 



12 ELECTRO- BIOLOGY. 

out the mystery of a charm. Hence with the ancients 
charms, chants and incantations were always more or 
less connected with the healing art. The number of 
known remedies being very few ; they were compelled 
to rely principally on this mode of healing, and it was 
thus fostered and transmitted from age to age. Its 
traces are even to this day to be found in our profes- 
sion, and indeed may be said to be the basis of some 
systems of modern practice. 

Homer tells us that the bleeding of Ulysses was 
stopped by a charm. Joseph us in his Antiquities says 
that Solomon discovered a plant for the cure of epilepsy, 
which he concealed in a ring and applied to the nose 
of the demoniac. This he aided with a song. Jose- 
phus says that he himself saw a Jewish priest operate 
successfully in the presence of Vespasian, his sons and 
the tribunes of the Roman army. Democritus says 
many diseases may be cured by the sound of the flute. 
Marianus Capellus observes that fevers may be cured 
by appropriate songs, and Asclepiades employed trum- 
pets for the relief of sciatica. 

Boerhaave arrested epilepsy in a school which had 
become epidemic by threatening to run a red hot poker 
through the leg of the next boy that should be taken 
with it. Ancient physicians speak very learnedly of 
live toads suspended round the neck for certain dis- 
eases. Again the soup of puppies is highly recom- 
mended. The hand of the dead man laid on the 
scrofulous ulcer or tumor has been known to cure in 
some cases, so has the king's touch. 

Epilepsy has been treated in some parts of Europe 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 1 3 

by causing the patient to drink the hot blood, as it 
gushes from (he neck of the decapitated criminal. 

" The physicians of India and Egypt are to this day 
charmers. The north-men compose Rhunic rhymes 
to charm away disease ; with the Norwegians and Ice- 
landers verse or song was looked upon as all powerful ; 
with the Jews the simple enunciation of their mystic 
word Abracalan was sufficient to inspire a confidence 
that baffled disease : the Indian sorcerer by charms and 
chants effects changes in the bodies of his patients 
truly wonderful. The physicians in Chili, says Zim- 
merman, blow around the beds of their patients to 
drive away disease. The practice of some North 
American medicine man, who performs certain fantas- 
tic tricks and takes the medicine himself, produces 
changes in the bodies of his patients every way ana- 
logous to f .he most skilful administration of medicine. 
The Arabs have their talismans, the Indians their 
amulets and the western nations praise the cures ef- 
fected by their holy wells and holy relics — a stone or 
ring, with a history real or supposed, a verse of the 
Koran or the Bible sewed in silk and worn next to the 
body, has induced a coporeal steadiness that defied the 
influence of epidemic and contagion. " 

The sympathetic powder of Digby, which raged 
for a time in Florence and England, speedily healed 
the wounds, when the weapons that had inflicted 
them, were carefully anointed and dressed ; the heal- 
ing of the wound in this case, being attributed 
to the dressing of the instrument. Perkins' Metallic 
Tractors, which at one time were held in such high 
repute for the cure of a host of diseases, were found by 



14 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

experiment with pieces of painted wood, to possess no 
inherent power of their own, but owed their reputation 
to the credulity of the patients. Upon the same prin- 
ciple does the success of the less reputable finger doc- 
tor of Texas depend. And as he possesses no historic 
fame, permit me to give some idea of his mode of 
practice. The doctor fixes his eye upon the patient to 
be operated on, first making him bare the parts affected, 
then making certain gyrations with his arm, he draws 
the fore finger rapidly over the parts, and as it passes 
off, he gives a decided stamp on the floor with his foot* 
These evolutions he continues for some time, says it 
is hard work, but it must be done to remove disease. 
Ife believes that a sanative power resides in his finger, 
and his success in some cases, confirms him in the 
belief, and no doubt brings him new patients. With 
how much propriety the infinitesimal dose, as prescribed 
by the homoepathic physician, may be classed with 
some of the before mentioned modes of healing is left 
to the unprejudiced reader to judge. 

It does not require any extraordinary acumen to 
discover a type that pervades and a bond that associates 
these multifarious results of experience. Certainly 
there can be no legitimate connexion between the ef- 
fect and the apparent cause. We then must look for 
some other than that of the apparent. When we look 
a little deeper than the surface of things we find an 
unity of action resulting from the electric state of the 
individual brain. Whatever can powerfully excite the 
mental condition, produces a physical impression 
through an electrical agency. Hence our impressi- 
bility varies with our electric susceptibility, and fre- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 15 

quently has no relation to the virtue or potency of the 
ascribed agent. 

It is upon this principle that faith, fear, joy, rage, ter- 
ror, disgust act with so much power, when, in reality > 
the subjects that gave rise to these several emotions 
possessed intrinsically no power whatever. 

a The simple act of inspiring confidence may be 
seen in the siege of Breda, in 1625. That city for a 
long siege suffered all the miseries that fatigue, bad 
provisions and distress of mind could bring upon its in- 
habitants. Among other misfortunes, the scurvy made 
its appearance and carried off great numbers. This 
added to other calamities induced the garrison to in- 
cline towards a surrender of the place, when the Prince 
of Orange anxious to prevent its loss, and unable 10 
relieve the garrison, continued, however, to introduce 
letters to the men, promising them the most speedy 
assistance. These were accompanied with medicines 
against the scurvy, said to be of great price, but of still 
greater effacacy. The effect was wonderful, two or 
three vials were given to each physician, and a few 
drops imparted a healing virtue to a gallon of water; 
many were quickly restored, and many who had not 
moved their limbs for months before, were seen walking 
the streets with their limbs sound and whole j and be« 
hold this potent medicine was simply colored water.' ' 

6 From this you may learn the importance of 
strengthening man in his own mind.' 

c Faith, fear, joy, rage, are never exercised with- 
out corporeal changes.' Any mental impression, as 
faith, acts on the principle of awakening motion. 
ci Disease has been termed an error of action, a greater 



|5 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

or less movement of the identical forces that continue 
life in health.'' And " There has been no disease,'' 
says the same eminent author, " that has not been 
caused or cured by the different passions." 

Now, therefore, if a mental impression has the power 
to awaken motion in matter, that motion may be of 
such a character as to reverse the existing motion upon 
which the disease depends. 

Witness the wounds of the conquered and those of 
the victors. Those of the victors, quickly get well ; 
while in the conquered, they are lingering and often 
prove fatal. 

At sea a beat to arms often empties an hospital, and 
the doctor not unfrequently silently contemplates and 
contrasts the drugging system with the booming cannon. 

The hand of the dead man laid on the scrofulous 
ulcer or tumor, as we have said, has been known to 
cure that disease in some females. The cure follow- 
ing the application. The dead man's hand was looked 
upon as possessing some inherent virtue when it, was 
wholly the result of the impression or mental emotion 
produced by the circumstances. There could have been 
no virtue resident in the dead man's hand apart from 
the impression Only think of a timid lady approach- 
ing the bier, there lays the ghastly corpse, the very touch 
sends a shudder through her frame. She approaches 
with feelings not easily to be described. She takes 
hold of the icy hand of death and places it on her 
neck. Her mind being thus wrought upon, must of 
necessity produce motion in the physical system, and 
that motion of so intense a character as to awaken and 
reverse the existing state of things. « 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 1 7 

Baron Alibert mentions a severe case of goitre in a 
lady that had resisted all the prescriptions of the most 
celebrated French physicians, that was effectually 
cured during the reign of terror. 

An old gentleman suffering from a paroxysm of 
gout and his attending physician failing to relieve him, 
he was effectually restored by fright. His wife, at 
the suggestion of a friend, dressed a lamb in slips and 
cup, and taking it in her arms, dreadfully lamenting f 
went into the chamber of her husband, communicating 
the sad intelligence of the awful change that had come 
over their youngest child. It produced so violent a 
mental agitation as completely to reverse the atomic 
motions of that portion of the body upon which his 
disease depended. 

An impression may be of such a character as even 
to produce death, and the individual may be said to 
die of an electro-nervous stroke. He dies from a dis- 
turbance of the inherent electric action of his own 
system, as effectually as if the lightning had Waped 
from the clouds and destroyed him. How many have 
died of sudden joy. The aged door-keeper of Con- 
gress, upon hearing the news of the surrender of York- 
town, is an illustrious and familiar example. Of 
sudden fright many have been the victims ; especially 
those of nervous and delicate habits. How was it 
with the malefactor condemned to the guillotine. His 
neck was placed on the block, his eyes bandaged, he 
was pardoned, yet the fact wa3 kept secret from him, 
the ceremony of execution was to be gone through and 
then he was to be released. The executioner was 
told to let the knife drop. The prisoner heard the 



!3 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

rattling wheel, at the instant he received a stroke upon 
the neck with a wet towel. He was raised from the 
block a corpse, his spirit had fled. The wet towel, 
here, could not have killed him. Where then are we 
to look for the force that destroyed him but that resi- 
dent in his own body. 

How are sensations communicated but through the 
medium of nervous perception. In other words, 
through the medium of the nerves, for a destruction 
of the nerve at once cuts off all communication with 
the external world. Then it is the medium through 
which the mind acts. Now if we ascertain the char- 
acter of that system we have the connecting link be- 
tween mind and matter. Its character appears evi- 
dently electric, and from the known properties of elec- 
tricity, it seems alone worthy to subserve the mandates 
of the will. Its transit knows no time, and with it 
distance is a blank. Now, then, if physical impres- 
sions are communicated only through and by the ner- 
vous system, and that too by its electric action, every 
other agent emanating from without — come in what 
shape it may — a look, a sigh, a word must travel the 
same highways to the dome of thought — the palace 
of the soul, and be conducted thither by the same 
winged messengers of nature. 

The words of Byron are as true in philosophy as 
they are chaste in poetry — "It maybe a sound, a 
tone of music, summer's eve or spring, the wind, the 
ocean, which may wound, striking the electric chain, 
wiih which we are darkly bound." 

So indissolubly bound is both mind and matter, that 
physical action of external objects is conveyed inward 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 19 

to the internal mind, and produces moral action, and 
moral action proceeds from the internal mind through 
the nervous and muscular medium to the external 
world, by which we perceive that mind and matter act 
and re-act upon each other. From this organization 
man becomes the recipient of impressions and impres. 
sions are the result of action or motion, and motion 
belongs to both physical and moral action. 

Motion can be communicated through the medium 
of one sense as well as another and one sense, accord- 
ing to its intensity of action, may influence the whole 
corporeal motion, for with the senses are linked me- 
mory, imagination, &c. A sight may bring a blush 
or pallor to the cheek — may press like an incubus or 
give lightness to the palpitating heart — may chill the 
blood, or send it like liquid fire through the veins — may 
be animation and vigor to the frame, or produce the 
swoon of death. Tasting, feeling, hearing, have pro- 
duced alike results. • 

So long as the passions or mental emotions act in 
concert with of the atomic motion of the system, 
harmony may be said to exist. But a passion by 
some exciting cause may become of so intense a 
character as to produce a derangement of the atomic 
motion of the body and even death in the same man- 
ner as a tuned violin or piano may have its strings 
snapped by intense vibration. 

If death has been produced by impressions, an im- 
pression has also the power to raise the sick from im- 
pending dissolution. The extremes being admitted, 
every phenomena that can be presented in the human 
system between the harmony of forces constituting life 



20 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

and those of death, when the passions are involved, 
may be explained on the principles of electrical im- 
pressions. Hence, when an agent possessing intrinsi- 
cally no virtue in itself is applied, and indeed with 
songs, chants, manipulations or appeals to faith, hope, 
&c, if success attends, we may strongly suspect the 
w orking of impressions. 

That impressions act electrically, and on the common 
principle of attraction and repuJsion we shall show in our 
subsequent lectures. If electrically, then subject to 
some principle of action. If connected with the mind, 
then measurably controlled by it. And if, as will 
hereafter be demonstrated, it is generated in the sys- 
tem and controlled by the immortal mind in its dis- 
tribution and use, we may safely come to the conclu- 
sion that it is also cumulative. That is, that it is 
gathered up like wheat into the garner, from the silent 
and vital changes that are going on in the physical sys- 
tem, and stored away for future use in the recesses of the 
brain and nervous system. If, therefore, it is cumula- 
tive, it is subject to surrounding circumstances, and 
can re-act with greater energy upon atomic motion 
under mental excitement. This cumulation is also, 
sometimes, called the negative condition of mind, 
which is but the result of a passiveness of the brain 
or submission to external forces. Man thus becomes 
easily impressed. But the mechanical doctor or char- 
latan, with his manipulations never dreams that an 
impression, dependent on a cerebral atomic condition, 
is electrically influencing for good or evil, a particular 
oigaD or structure. This condition is also a fruitful 
source of the fanatic and deluded zealot's success 



ELECTR0-B10L0G/. 21 

And all false religions owe their influence over the 
minds of the multitudes to it, and numerous have been 
the sects, born of this parent of mystery. But we 
shall only mention that of the Mormon faith. They 
seem to attach wonderful importance to the laying on 
of hands in healing the sick, and even take this as an 
evidence on their part of Apostolic power, when in 
reality it can be done by any one assuming an air of 
mystery, first gaining the confidence of the subject; 
any other agent would act in the same manner under 
similar circumstances. 

We have said that an impression acts electrically, 
and in accordance with the common principle of at- 
traction and repulsion. But the causes that give rise 
to impressions are frequently only of a mechanical 
character and sustain about the same relation to the 
complicated and wonderful machinery of the human 
system as the mechanical mover of the valves in the 
steam engine. 

That the human system is the most perfect isolated 
self-acting electro-magnetic machine of the most deli- 
cate workmanship will be seen in a subsequent lecture, 
and not only as Dr. Dodd observes, does it derive its 
electric action from the atmospheric electricity in the 
lungs, thus rendering the iron in the blood magnetic, 
but its sources are as abundant as that of the globe 
itself ; of which man is but an epitome. In the earth 
philosophy has proved that the mysterious process of 
crystalization — the formation of metallic ores — the 
numberless and inscrutable changes from the solid to 
the gaseous state — the respiration of plants and the 
germination of seeds, evolve powerful electric currents ; 



22 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

so also, in the several changes of the body, the motion 
of its particles, whether undergoing the process of or- 
ganization in the living tissues or passing out in the 
form of excretion evolve electrical currents. That the 
chemical and other changes constantly going on in the 
human system contribute powerfully to this result we 
must naturally infer from the very elements which are 
found in the animal economy — such as carbon, hydro- 
gen, potassium and sodium — which exhibit a strong 
affinity for those of the negative- — as oxygen, sulphur, 
nitrogen and chlorine, and other affinities of necessity 
evolve electrical currents* Acids and alkalies are 
found separated by a membrane, constituting myriads 
of little galvanic circles, which as such, must produce 
electrical effects. But more clearly will this subject 
be illustrated in our subsequent lectures, after we have 
somewhat briefly examined the subjects of Galvanism, 
Magnetism and the Electro-Magnetic force3 of the 
human body. 



LECTURE II. 

Electricity and Galvanism. — Electricity known to the ancients. 

— Tliales, the discoverer. — Its modifications. — Galvanism dis- 
covered by Galvani. — The Voltaic theory ana] pile. — Simple 
Galvanic circuit. — Compound circuit. — The poles. — Gal- 
vanic trough and battery. — JVature of the fluid little known. 

— Resemblance and difference between Electricity and Gal- 
vanism. — Decomposing power of Sir H. Davy's battery. — 
Various experiments. 

The eye of philosophy fails to discover among the 
legends and uncertain traditions of the ancients any 
distinct traces of a knowledge of the first principles hy 
which the life of man is governed ; and electricity, 
now recognized as the ruling power of the universe, 
was totally unknown, till about six hundred years 
before the christian era. Electricity was discovered, 
about this period, in a substance called in our language, 
amber, but in Greek it was called electron, from which 
electricity derives its name. Thales, a celebrated phi- 
losopher of Greece, is said to be the discoverer. He 
found that by rubbing a piece of amber, it had the 
power of attracting to its surface certain light bodies, 
and then repelling them, or letting them fall off. And 
if he, when he had made the discovery, stood aback 
in wonder and amazement, believing that it was en- 
dowed with a living soul, what would be his feelings 
now, could he arise from the silent slumbers of the 



24 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

tomb, and behold the Iron horse speeding away on 
the wings of steam, and intelligence communicated 
from post to post, a thousand miles distant, on the 
electric or lightning telegraph in advance of old time 
himself, swift and certain as he is in his flight. We 
see by this, that the subject of electricity claimed the 
attention of the ancients at an early period of authentic 
history, and certain other substances were soon dis- 
covered to possess the same electric power as amber, 
of attracting light bodies when rubbed, and then re- 
pelling them. For want of amber, this interesting 
experiment may be tried with a piece of glass or a 
stick of sealing wax. Thus, though the sages of an- 
tiquity advanced from step to step, yet so slow was the 
progress made in the investigation of this, nature's all 
pervading and most powerful agent, that it was left to 
the discoveries of the present century to dignify it with 
the title, and rank it first among the sciences. The 
deeper the researches into the arcana of nature have 
been, the greater importance has this science assumed 
in the eyes of modern philosophers, and the greater its 
utility in the economy of creation, is it now known to 
be. So important, indeed, is electricity in the opera- 
tions of nature, that in all the motions of matter, and 
in every chemical process, there are manifestations of 
its development in a greater or less degree ; and there 
are many of the present day, eminent in natural 
science, who believe, and not without reason, that all 
change is the result and not the cause of electrical 
action. They believe, that composition and decompo- 
sition, the growth and decay of all vegetation, which 
is nothing more than the alternate attraction and re- 



ELECTRO BIOLOGY. 25 

pulsion of the particles of matter, are effected by its 
means. The invisible agency, which causes a stone, 
when cast into the air, to descend again to the earth ; 
described and called by the great Sir Isaac Newton, 
the attraction of gravitation ; and the unerring certainty 
with which the magnetic needle points to the north, 
and guides the mariner across the pathless ocean, in 
die darkness of the night, amid the thunder and the 
storm to the destined port, are but manifestations of the 
same power, differently modified. There is now but 
little doubt that the daily motion of our earth upon its 
axis, and its yearly revolutions round the sun, together 
with the motions of all that host of suns, moons and 
stars that spangle the heavens, and there for ever 
shine, attesting the greatness, glory and wisdom of 
God owe the regularity and precision of their move- 
ments to the self-same cause. The life of man him- 
self, the result of the most perfect organization of mat- 
ter, is but a higher link in the electrical chain that 
binds material to immateriality, and connects time 
with eternity. Indeed an eminent English author has 
already classified these various modifications, when he 
observes that " The attraction of the magnet is an 
electrical step in advance of gravitation, chemical 
change one step more, the alternate attraction and re- 
pulsion of amber is a still higher link in the electrical 
chain. Galvanism and electricity strictly so called, 
embrace all the subordinate links, while life or vital 
electricity comprehends the whole." 

We cannot, in the design of the present work, give 
more than these general remarks, on what is called 
common electricity j for the minutiae of this wonder 
2 



2(j ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

working agent, we would refer the reader to the nu- 
merous elaborate works now extant. We shall now 
proceed to the examination of one of its modifications, 
as coming within our province, and in this, we propose 
to particularize. 

Galvanism was discovered about the year 1790, and 
takes its name from Dr. Galvani, a Professor of Ana- 
tomy at Bologna in Italy, its reputed discoverer. One 
day in the above mentioned year, some skinned frogs, 
prepared for soup, were lying on a table, in the profes- 
sor's laboratory, near an electric machine. 

During his absence, one of his students, more for 
mischief perhaps than anything else, touched with his 
scalpel the crural nerves of one of the frogs, and the 
muscles were immediately set in violent convulsive 
motion. Galvani being informed of this, attributed it 
to the electrical machine, and commenced a series of 
experiments to test the truth of his theory. He soon 
however, had occasion to relinquish it and adopt a 
new one, when he found he could produce these con- 
tractions of the muscles at pleasure, without the aid of 
electricity, by using two wires of different metals, 
This new theory was, that there existed in the animal 
two kinds of electricity, one in the muscles, the other in 
the nerves, and that it only wanted a metalic commu- 
nication to set them in motion. He published a work 
on animal electricity about fifty years ago, containing 
his theories and the result of his experiments. The 
discovery is generally called accidental, but we ought 
to give credit, where credit is due, for the same trifling 
circumstance, that led Galvani on to reason, reflect and 
experiment, would have been observed by thousands 



ELECTRO- BIOLOGY. 27 

of others, with only a passing notice. And although 
his opinions were erroneous and his experiments failed 
to reveal to him the true source of the subtle agent he 
was trying to explore, yet they laid the foundation of 
a science, that has already benefited millions, and in 
conneciion with magnetism, is probably destined to 
supersede the use of steam and become the great mo- 
tive power of machinery. 

It was left to Volt a, of Padua, to ascertain the true 
source of this wonderful agent. He found that the 
electricity or galvanism, as it should now be called, 
did not exist in the muscles and nerves of the animal, 
but that it was the effect of two metals on each other. 
And the most simple experiment I can give you to 
illustrate this principle in galvanism, is by placing a 
piece of copper under the tongue, and a piece of sil- 
ver above it, then let their edges come in contact, a 
a peculiar not unpleasant sensation is produced, totally 
different from that of either metal, or both of them 
when not touching each other. Some persons are 
even enabled, by closing the eyes, to perceive a flash 
of light, at the moment of contact of the two metals; 
I, however, have never been so fortunate myself. 
This peculiar sensation we have spoken of, is caused 
by the latent electricity in the metals, being set free 
and put in motion by the action of the saliva on them. 
The tongue serves as a conductor, the Galvanism pass- 
es from the copper through the tongue to the silver, 
thence along the silver to the point of contact, and so 
on in a continued circuit, as long as the metals touch 
each other. This fact was known long before Galva- 



28 ELECTRO -BIOLOGY. 

ni's time, but could not then be explained or accounted 
for, on anything like rational grounds. It is owing to 
this Galvanic action, that water has a different taste 
when drank from a tin cup and a glass or any other 
non-metalic vessel; and also shows the predilection of 
the English for tankards in drinking their ale instead 
of glasses. 

Take a slip of copper and a slip of zinc, place them 
in a tumbler of water so that their upper ends shall 
project and be in contact, a very slight galvanic action 
is developed. Put in some salt and the action will be 
increased a little, a little sulphuric or nitric acid, and 
it becomes still more intense. The zinc being most 
easily aclecl on by the acid evolves the greatest amount 
of Galvanism, and is therefore called positive. This 
passes through the water or acid to the copper, from 
the copper to the zinc at the point of junction, and so 
on, will the current continue to flow as long as they 
remain in situ. 

This constitutes a simple Galvanic circuit. Now se- 
parate the two upper ends of the metals, and put a fin- 
ger of one hand on one, and a finger of the other hand 
on the other ; the Galvanism will now pass from the 
copper through the arms and body as a conductor to 
the zinc, and so on in a continued circuit as before. 
Take a finger off one of the metals, the Galvanism 
instantly ceases to flow and the circuit is said to be bro- 
ken ; put the finger on again, and the circuit is again 
closed. A wire may be substituted for the arms, and 
the current passes with equal facility, whether it be 
only a few feet, or many miles in length, as in the 
telegraph. This simple circuit is capable of develop- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 29 

ing this mysterious and powerful agent only in a limit- 
ed degree. 

Volia, reasoning a priori, that if one set of plates 
would develope a small quantity; two sets would de- 
velope more, and so on, in proportion to the number 
used. This he found upon experiment to be the fact, 
until carried to a certain extent, beyond which no ad- 
ditional intensity could be gained. His method of 
combination received from him the name of the voltaic 
pile, and was constructed as follows: upon some sub- 
stance that was a non-conductor, such as dry wood, 
glass, rosin, &c, he first placed a copper coin, then a 
silver one, then a piece of cloth moistened with acid- 
ulated, or salt water, then another copper and silver 
coin, moist cloth as before, and this he carried to any 
desirable extent, and was enabled to produce consider- 
able galvanic effects. This is called a compound cir- 
cuit, since it is composed of several simple ones. The 
Galvanic influence will be most sensibly perceived at 
the top and bottom of the pile, and therefore called the 
poles. One is styled the positive, the other the nega- 
tive pole. It is requisite for the success of the experi- 
ment, that the two metals used, should be unequally 
acted on by the acid ; that is, that one should be more 
easily corroded, or rusted as it is commonly called, 
than the other, otherwise no effect will be produced. 
Any other metals will do as well as copper and silver, 
or zinc and copper, but the two latter are most com- 
monly used, both on account of their cheapness and 
the easy corrosion of the zinc. The pole having the 
metal most easily acted on by the acid will be positive 
and that least so negative. It is necessary, therefore, 



:>><) ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

that I he pile should begin wiih one metal and end 
with i he other. The poles must have a connexion by 
means of a wire or some conducting substance, in or- 
der to make the battery complete. All the phenome- 
na of the compound circuit or battery are the same as 
observed in the simple one, only in a much higher 
degree. 

The voltaic pile was found to be too inconvenient 
in practice, and this led to the invention of the Gal- 
vanic trough by Cruikshank, a means of producing 
more powerful effects and much more easily man- 
aged. It may be made of any size, but for most 
purposes, in which it is used, it is made three or four 
feet long by six or eight inches in depth and breadth. 
The inner sides and bottom are cut in grooves, an inch 
or two apart. A plate of zinc and a plate of copper 
aie then taken, of sufficient thickness when soldered 
together to exactly fill the grooves. They are then 
fitted in water tight. These plates divide the trough 
into numerous cells, the x copper side of the plates must 
all face one way, and the zinc the other, so that there 
will he a copper plate at one end of the trough, and a 
zinc plate at the other, to which the wires are to be at- 
at I ached as in the voltaic pile. In order to put this 
battery in operation, these cells must be filled with 
acidulated water and you will at once perceive the re- 
semblance between the pile and the trough. The 
acid answers the purpose of the moistened cloth, as a 
corroder of the metals, and a conveyer or conductor 
of the galvanic fluid from one set of plates to the other. 
These are by no means the only forms of a Galvanic 
Battery. They are as various as the purposes to which 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 31 

they are applied or as the fancy of the operator chooses 
to have them constructed. They are, however all 
made upon the same principle, there must be two me- 
(als of unequal corrodibihty, an acid and a conductor. 

This, then is a brief description of the galvanic bat- 
tery, the generator of that subtle fluid called galvan- 
ism ; and by its means we are enabled to excite that 
powerful agent in any determinate quantity we wish, 
and apply it to various purposes at pleasure. But of 
the nature of the fluid itself, its own essence or sub- 
stance we know nothing. Yet we do know that it dif- 
fers according to the means used for its development 
We know that a trough or battery, having but few 
plates, but very large, produces galvanism of great 
heating power, whereas if the surface of the plates is 
small and they are many in number, the electrical 
character of the fluid will be more intense and the 
heat less. These phenomena are always in propor- 
tion to the size and number of the plates used, so that 
we derive the following general rule. a If we wish to 
produce great heat only, the plates must be large but 
few in number. If great intensity is desired, the 
plates must be small but their number great. If both 
heat and intensity are wanted, then the plates must be 
large and many in number. ,, 

In many respects the electricity of the heavens, of 
that excited by the electric machine, and galvanism 
resemble each other. The metals and such substances 
as conduct the one, are common conductors of both. 
They both exhibit a spark, are both capable of pro- 
ducing a shock upon the animal system when applied 
to it. They both are positive and negative; that is 



32 ELECTRO BIOLOGY. 

according to Dr. Franklin's theory, any body may 
have more or less than its natural quantity; or accord- 
ing to older theories, they consist of two different 
kinds, termed vitreous and resinous, either separate or 
in combination. The vitreous corresponds to the po- 
sitive and the resinous to the negative. They both 
effect the decomposition of water and other substances. 
These with other similarities have induced many emi- 
nent philosophers to consider them identical, differing 
only in this, that the one is excited by friction as 
in the electrical machine ; the other by the action of 
acids on the metals, as in the galvanic battery. 

In many respects, however, they are widely and 
totally different. The galvanic fluid easily renders 
iron temporarily and steel permanently magnetic, as 
will hereafter be shown, while common electricity car* 
be made to subserve no such purposes practically. 
Galvanism is more dense so to speak, and can be con- 
veyed to any distance by means of conductors, as in 
the telegraph ; while electricity is soon lost or dissi- 
pated in the atmosphere. This would lead us to the 
conclusion, though it is not mentioned by authors, that 
the former holds its natural abode in the denser par- 
ticles of matter, or the recesses of the earth ; while the 
latter, more etherial in its nature is a tenant of the 
thinner regions of uninhabited space. Galvanism can 
be produced in a continued supply and must have a 
continuous conductor, while electricity can only be 
had at irregular intervals, and is transmitted by sparks 
from one substance to another, as in the lightning 
during a storm. Tn all respects galvanism can be 
made an obedient and useful agent, subservient to the 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 33 

will and pleasure of the philosopher, while electricity 
is at all times a refractory subject, and often escapes 
with a crack and a spark to its native atmosphere, 
when the operator least expects or desires it. 

Sir Humphery Davy had a battery of two thousand 
plates and of twenty-two inch surface, by which he 
could kindle a fire seven times hotter than the fiery 
furnace in which the three young Israelites were cast, 
which we are told was seven times heated. And by 
having wires pointed with charcoal, one of the most 
infusible of substances, he was able to burn up instan- 
taneously small pieces of gold, silver, iron and most 
of the metals that were submitted to its action ; and 
substances that had resisted, for centuries, all the ef- 
forts of the chemists at decomposition, and pronounced 
by them simple substances readily yielded their ele- 
ments to this powerful decomposer and demonstrated 
their compound nature. Thus lime, potassa and soda 
were found to be the metals calcium, potassium and 
sodium in combination with oxygen, or oxides of those 
metals. The same may also be said of thousands of 
other bodies. 

Water is a compound and consists of oxygen and 
hydrogen gasses in the proportion of one volume of 
oxygen to two of hydrogen. By passing the galvanic 
current through the water, it is decomposed; the oxy- 
gen, being negative, is cariied to the positive pole, 
and may there be collected in its purity by a suitable 
apparatus ; the hydrogen being positive is carried to 
the negative pole, and may also be there collected. 
If a wire be heated to redness and dipped in some of 
the oxygen, it will burn with beautiful scintillations. 



34 ELECTRO -BIOLOGY. 

The oxygen unites with the iron and forms an oxide. 
But if the heated wire be put into the hydrogen, that 
gas will be set on tire, and will burn with a beautiful 
blue flame. If the two gasses are mixed together in 
proper proportion, in a suitable vessel, and a current 
of I he galvanic fluid passed through the mixture, they 
will instantly explode with a loud report, and form 
precisely the same quantity of water as before it was 
decomposed. By this beautiful and truly astonishing 
experiment, water can be decomposed, its constituents 
made to burn, and converted into water again. 

Gilding and silver plating may be performed by 
means of the galvanic battery. Copper plates and 
other engravings are accurately copied, and if a man 
were put into a vessel holding copper in solution, he 
might be encased in a solid covering of copper. Dis- 
solve some soda in a glass of water, and put some di- 
lute sulphuric acid in another, then connect the two 
by a piece of moistened cotton, and put the wire pro- 
ceeding from the positive pole of the battery in the 
soda and that from the negative in the acid ; the acid 
will then pass over to the cup that held the soda, and the 
soda to the cup that held the acid. Again disolve some 
sulphate of soda or other salt, in a vessel of water, 
put some pure water in another, connect as before, and 
apply the battery ; the acid may be made to leave the 
soda, or the soda the acid, and pass over to. the vessel of 
water, according as the positive or negative pole is put. 
in the solution. A still more interesting experiment 
may be made by dissolving some of the same salt in a 
glass vessel, connect this with another vessel on either 
side containing water, then by applying the wires to the 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 35 

outside vessels, the salt in the middle one will be de- 
composed ; the acid passing over to the positive pole, 
and the soda to the negative pole, leaving pure water 
in the vessel they have left. Upon the same principle 
a person might take a dose of salts, and by applying 
the battery to his sides, the soda or magnesia might 
be collected on one side and the acid on the other ; 
they then might be mixed and form salts again. Mil- 
lions of little insects have been created by means of the 
galvanic shock, out of powdered silex, or our common 
flint stone. We might here enumerate many more of 
its wonders, but for the present forbear, as we design 
to take the subject up again in a subsequent lecture so 
far as it affects the vital organization. In conclusion 
let us remark, that these things may appear stranger 
than fiction, but they are stamped as truths by an Al- 
mighty hand, and man has but to lake them as he 
finds them. 



LECTURE III. 



MAGNETISM. 

Anecdote. — Natural Magnets. — Artificial Magnets. — Poles. — 
Magnetic and Geographic Poles of the Earth. — Compound 
Magnets. — Magnetism a Fluid. — Theory of Atomic Magne- 
tism. — Electro-Magnetism. — New Theory of Gravitation. — 
Orders of Electricity. — Their influence in producing tlxe mo- 
tions of the Earth, Planets, fyc. 

There is an anecdote related of a shepherd, who, as 
he was walking along one day, over some rocks, found 
it almost impossible to raise his feet from the ground. 
After several ineffectual efforts, on his part, to proceed, 
he at length became terrified ; and untying his shoes, 
left them in possession of the rocks, while he took to 
his heels, at the top of his speed ; under the impres- 
sion, no doubt, that he had fallen upon a den of 
witches. How different the ideas of a philosopher — 
the rocks were Magnetic — the shoes had iron nails in 
them. 

The Magnet is an ore of iron, and is found in 
a state of nature, in various parts of the earth — 
from this circumstance it is called the natural magnet. 
It is generally of a dark, or black color ; but is some- 
times found, though rarely, in a crystaline state. The 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 37 

most remarkable peculiarity of the natural Magnet, is, 
that it has, without any previous preparation, the power 
of attracting iron and steel. This peculiar property has 
been ascertained by careful and very accurate experi- 
ments, always to be in proportion to the distance, and 
not to the size of the Magnet. Some very small spe- 
cimens, are capable of attracting and sustaining much 
heavier weights, than others, in proportion to their size. 
Sir Isaac Newton had one, which he wore as a set in a 
ring, and weighing only three grains, which would 
sustain 748 grains or nearly 250 times its own weight j 
while others, of a like magnitude, would not support a 
twentieth part of it. The power of Magnets, therefore, 
is estimated, by the weight they are capable of sus- 
taining. 

The properties of the natural Magnet may be com- 
municated to iron and steel j and these after having ac- 
quired such properties are called artificial magnets. 
The powers of artificial Magnets may also be trans- 
mitted, ad libitum, and they are most commonly used 
in experiments, for the simple reason, that they can be 
made of any form and power, desirable. • 

Two Magnets mutually attract each other, at deter- 
minate distances, and the attraction between two Mag- 
nets is greater than the attraction between iron or 
steel and a Magnet. This mutual attraction may be 
illustrated by a very simple, yet interesting experiment 

— place a small Magnet on alight substance, as dry 
wood or the figure of a duck, goose or boat, and a 
piece of iron or steel, or another Magnet on another piece 

— let them be put in a vessel of water, so as to swim 
them, at some distance from each other — they will then 



3g ELECTRO-BIOLOGY; 

be found lo approach each other at the same rate. The 
interposition of any substance that does not contain 
iron, in nowise, interferes with this attractive quality^ 
for when placed under water, or in a vessel, from 
which the air has been exhausted, or into which it has 
been condensed, the same properties are still exhibited 
in the same degree, as when in the open air. This 
proves that the Magnetic influence passes with equal 
facility through water, glass, wood and all other sub* 
stances containing no iron or steel. The knowledge of 
(hese facts, has been taken advantage of in jugglery 
and slight of hand ; and by means of concealed Mag- 
nets, the expert operator can perform wonderful and 
astonishing feats, that would appear impossible without 
the aid of a supernatural power, and which are totally 
incomprehensible to the uninitiated. 

A Magnet, either natural or artificial, when suspend- 
ed by a fine thread, or balanced on a pivot, so as to 
move freely in any direction, invariably points one end 
towards the North and the other to the South. This 
is doubtless, its most useful property, since it gave 
rise to (he invention of the Mariner's Compass — the 
Seamen's guiding star, when far away, upon the 
boundless ocean, his beacon of hope, when the 
storm-king rages fiercest — the discoverer of America 
and the ant-artic continent — the indisputable lever, 
that controls the commerce of the world. 

There are always two points in every Magnet, where 
the attractive force is greatest. They are at or near the 
ends of the Magnet, and are called the poles — one, 
the North pole — the other, the South pole. Though 
it has heretofore been stated, that two Magnets mutual- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 39 

\y attract each other; yet it only holds good, When the 
North pole of one, is presented to the South pole of 
another : for if two North poles or two South poles be 
presented to each other, instead of mutually attract- 
ing, they mutually repel: poles, therefore, of opposite 
names attract; while those of the same, repel each 
other. Rust weakens the power of a Magnet, and 
a white heat entirely destroys it. The poles may be 
reversed, or destroyed by an electric shock, and the 
explosion of a small quantity of gun powder upon one 
of them will sometimes have the same effect. When 
both poles of a Magnet can be brought to bear upon 
the same piece of iron or steel, at the same time, the 
power is proportionately increased. It is on this prin- 
ciple that the horse-shoe Magnet is made. Though 
we have said that the magnet when suspended by a 
thread, or the Magnetic needle when fixed upon a 
pivot, points to the North, yet this is not always the 
case. There are two Magnetic as well as two geogra- 
phical poles to the earth, and they do not always cor- 
respond. The North Magnetic Pole is in North 
America — the South Magnetic Pole is in Australia. 
A line passing round the earth through these two poles 
is the Magnetic Meridian. The situation of the Mag- 
netic poles is by no means constant, they are ever 
varying towards the East or West of the geographic 
poles, and as the Magnetic needle always points to the 
Magnetic poles, its variation from due North and South 
is sometimes as high as twenty or thirty degrees. The 
fallacy of surveying by old courses and distances is thus 
clearly demonstrated ; for a line that was run twenty- 
years ago, North 10° East, might now be as many 



40 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 



degrees West, thus throwing a line twenty degrees, or 
one-eighteenth part of a circle out of its true course. 
Ignorance of these facts, no doubt, often gives rise to 
tedious and expensive law suits, and makes enemies of 
those who were once the best of friends. 

Several Magnets may be joined together, with all 
their North poles one way, and all their South poles 
the other, and form a compound Magnet of increased 
power and efficacy, according to the number, size and 
power of them so arranged. Thus placed, the fluids 
all coalesce and act as one Magnet, whereas, if they 
were reversed there would be a confusion among the 
currents — the one counterbalancing the other. Mag- 
nets become of greater power by being placed in the 
Magnetic Meridian, and they lose a portion of their 
power when not so placed, and if the North pole of a 
Magnet, be constantly held towards the North Mag- 
netic pole, it will in time entirely lose its virtue. Mag- 
netic needles sometimes lose their power, but may be 
remagnetized by holding a powerful Magnet to it — 
the needle, whilst receiving the Magnetism will be vio- 
lently agitated, but when it becomes thoroughly charged, 
it remains perfectly at rest. 

It is generally considered by the best philosophers, 
that Electricity and Galvanism are subtle fluids, uni 
versally diffused throughout the material world, and 
we can see no good reason, why Magnetism may not 
with equal propriety, be deemed a fluid also, passing 
round and round the Magnet, from pole to pole. 
Here, therefore, very naturally arises the important 
and interesting inquiry, why is a Magnet, Magnetic? 
This we can only answer from the present state of our 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 4 1 

knowledge, that they have the particles of matter of 
which they are composed, so arranged as to become 
good conductors — on the theory we shall here ad- 
vance, that the ultimate particles of matter are little glo- 
bules — are original Magnets, and have each their own 
circles of Magnetism, revolving or rather passing round 
and round them. Now, we have already shown the 
properties of the compound Magnet, in which alt the 
poles of single Magnets of the same name, are brought 
to act as one, increasing the power in proportion to the 
number. Furthermore, we know that a single Magnet 
with two poles, may be divided and sub-divided and 
each portion will have new poles established in them 
and become so many separate and independent Mag- 
nets. Carry this division as far as you please and the 
principle still holds good. Reduce it to the finest pow- 
der and each ultimate particle, will still be a minute 
Magnet, as perfect in itself yet of such feeble power as 
to be quite imperceptible to our senses. It may be 
said that this is mere hypothesis — not so, it is only 
carrying out a plain and acknowledged analogy, for 
each division of the original Magnet decreases its power 
in proportion to its size, and it is perfectly fair to con- 
clude that the same rule holds good, even to the ul- 
timatum. 

Now let all these minute particles be brought to- 
gether so as to form one mass, they will not act as the 
one Magnet of which they were made, for the reason 
that their poles being some oneway and some another, 
there is a confusion among the currents, one counter- 
balancing the effects of the other as would be the case 
in a compound Magnet, were half the North poles of 



42 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

the single Magnets, placed to the South poles of the 
oilier half, under such circumstances, there would he 
no power at all manifested, yet should we come to the 
sage conclusion, that they were no longer Magnets — not 
by any means; separate the compound and each piece 
will be a Magnet still, perfect in itself— so arrange them, 
that the like poles may correspond, and they all act as 
one. So wilh the minute particles of the pulverized 
Magnet we have supposed, arrange them in such or- 
der that their poles shall correspond, and you restore at 
once the power of the former Magnet. We therefore 
hold, that every piece of iron or steel is composed of 
innumerable little Magnets, without any regularity in 
the distribution of their poles, — and when it becomes 
magnetized, there is motion communicated to the ulti- 
mate particles, and according to the universal law of 
their nature, they so arrange themselves, that all their 
north poles and all their south poles, correspond with 
each other. We consider as proofs of this theory, first, 
that bars of iron, old shovels and tongs, &c, when left 
for a length of time in the magnetic meridian, exhibit 
Magnetic phenomena — the terrestrial magnetism, con- 
stantly passing round and round the earth from pole to 
pole, changes the relation of their particles, and dispose 
the little Magnets to harmonize. The second proof, 
we offer, is the fact we have mentioned, that when a 
Magnet has its poles placed the reverse of the poles of 
the earth, it soon looses its virtue, because the currents 
of the one interfere with the currents of the other — as 
when two streams of water, flowing in opposite direc- 
tions meet and produce a confused eddy. It is also a 
well known fact, that steel can be permanently mag- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 43 

netized and soft iron cannot; the steel being hard, does 
not permit its particles to return to their original situa- 
tion, when the due motion has been communicated to 
them by the magnetizing power, and the force that 
bent them in their new relation has been removed. 
We know too, that when the attractive power is com- 
municated from a magnetized bar of steel to an unmag- 
netized one, the former loses none of its power, which 
it certainly would do, were it on the same principle of 
positive and negative, as in common electricity. Arti- 
ficial motion, also, produced in the receiving body by 
striking it with a hammer, aids very much in the induc- 
tion of the magnetic phenomena. The compass needle, 
we have also said, ( and it may as easily be proved by 
experiment as to say it,) is strongly agitated, while re- 
ceiving its magnetism, clearly establishing the fact that 
there is a change in the relation, that is motion, of the 
particles or ultimate and original Magnets of which it 
is composed. Lastly, we will state, that all the re- 
searches of philosophy have as yet discovered nothing 
contradictory to these views, — and we shall take the 
ground, that Magnets, either natural or artificial, are 
only so, because the particles of matter which compose 
them, are so arranged as to develop their otherwise 
latent power. That other metals and other substances 
are not magnetic, — that is, visibly magnetic, is because 
the magnetism of their ultimate particles is so feeble 
that visible attraction cannot be induced in them as in 
iron and steel, by any artificial or natural means. 

We might here very appropriately extend our re- 
marks to the attraction of cohesion, chemical affinity, 
&c, as dependent on the same principle; but the de- 



44 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

sign of the present work precludes more than a glance 
at the wonderful operations of this truly mystic 
power of nature. Yet, we cannot pass them by, with- 
out the expression of the conviction, that cohesion is 
nothing more nor less than miniature Magnetism. 
Thus, if you take two Magnets and present their oppo- 
site poles, they adhere strongly together — this is Mag- 
netic attraction. Again, take two minute or ultimate 
particles, having no visible Magnetic properties; put 
them together so that they adhere— this is cohesive at- 
traction. Are they not identical? JNow, by any means 
in your power, change the position of the Magnets so 
that poles of the same name may come together, and 
they repel — this is Magnetic repulsion. Next, take any 
substance and produce motion among its particles so 
that they repel each other — this is decomposition, so 
called; but what is the difference between it and Mag- 
netic repulsion? Chemical affinity may as easily be 
illustrated by two Magnets and a piece of iron. Take 
some oil and soda — they unite and form a substance 
eniirely different from either, called soap. In a solu- 
tion of soap, pour some sulphuric acid, and the soda 
will instantly leave the oil, and seek companionship, 
and form a union with a more congenial paitner; and 
all this is effected by what is termed chemical and 
elective affinity. But, is it essentially different from 
magnetism ? For if you take a horse shoe Magnet and 
put an armature of soft iron on or near the poles — there 
is a strong adhesion, — but apply to the poles another 
Magnet of equal or superior power, and the armature 
will either dropoff, like the oil from the soda, or pa^s 
over lo its more powerful neighbor, like the soda; what 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 45 

more, therefore, is chemical affinity than the attraction 
between a Magnet and soft iron ? What more is elec- 
tive affinity, than the stronger attraction, heretofore no- 
ticed, between two Magnets, than between a Magnet 
and a piece of iron. 

We come now to treat of the connexion between 
Galvanism and Magnetism, and to examine the rela- 
tion they sustain towards, and their effects on each 
other. This is called Electro-Magnetism. 

The first effect we observe in passing the Galvanic 
current along a metallic conductor, such as a copper 
or iron wire, is, that there is a secondary current in- 
duced, which revolves around the primary one in the 
wire. This secondary current passes round and round 
through the air in a plane at right angles to the wire, 
in the same direction as the hands of a watch, when 
the primary current is passed from above, downwards. 
It is upon this secondary current, and the temporary 
induction of Magnetism in soft iron, that the science 
of Electro-Magnetism is based. It is the great prin- 
ciple upon which all Electro-Magnetic machines are 
made, and accounts for all the wonderful phenomena 
of this truly astonishing and interesting science. 

The most obvious effect of this secondary current is, 
that when the primary conductor is held parallel to a 
magnetic needle suspended so as move freely, it causes 
the needle to deviate from its north and south direc- 
tion, and to assume a position at right angles to the 
conducting wire. Also, when the conducting wire is 
insulated and wound into a coil or helix, having a 
current of galvanism passing through if, and a piece 
of soft iron is put into the helix, it exhibits north and 



45 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

south polarity — the same as a permanent Magnet, but 
as soon as the current ceases to flow, the iron looses its 
power. With steel it is otherwise, for it not only ex- 
hibits polarity under the same circumstances, but if 
allowed to remain within the helix for a while, it be- 
comes permanently magnetic. It is by taking advan- 
tage of this property of soft iron, in becoming Mag- 
netic while the current is passing round it, that most 
Electro-Magnetic machines are made ; some upon the 
mere principle of attraction, others upon that of attrac- 
tion and repulsion. 

The most useful and one of the most remarkable 
inventions of the age, is Morse's Electro Magnetic 
Telegraph. This acts upon the principle of attraction 
alone. The operator at one end of the line, alter- 
nately closes and breaks the circuit, which magnetizes 
a piece of iron placed in a helix at the other station. 
This alternately attracts an armature, fixed to the end 
of a lever, having a spring to raise the armature as 
soon as the circuit is broken and the iron demagnetized. 
At the other end of the lever are fixed steel points 
which fit into groves in a steel roller, over which passes, 
by means of clock work, a strip of paper. When the 
operator closes the circuit, the iron is magnetized, the 
armature is attracted, the opposite end of the lever is 
raised, the steel points press upon the paper and the 
desired impression is made. 

Professor Page, of Washington, has invented a 
printing press, worked by Electro-Magnetism, and 
giving 1200 impressions per hour. Other machines 
have been constructed— more curious than useful — 
among which we may mention the revolving Magnet, 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 47 

which, by means of a perpetual screw and clock work, 
has been found to have attained (he incredible speed 
of 48,000 revolutions per minute. For a more partic- 
ular account, we will refer the reader to Davis' Man- 
ual of Magnetism. 

The secondary current we have spoken of, may be 
separated from the primary one, as follows : let the 
current from a battery of moderate power be passed 
through a helix of coarse insulated wire, having a pis- 
ton of soft wire within it — around the first helix let a 
second one be placed so as to be completely insulated 
— now let the current be alternately broken and closed 
by a vibrating armature, as in the medical machines, 
strong and powerful shocks will be felt by a person 
holding the two poles of the second helix m either 
hand. These shocks will be powerful or weak ac- 
cording as the piston is pushed in, or withdrawn from 
the primary helix. The magnetism of the iron is there- 
fore supposed to generate the secondary current, or at 
least the shocks, and hence it has taken the name of 
Magneto-Electricity, and is that used for medical pur- 



Again, if a third helix surrounds the second, a ter- 
tiary current may be obtained. And so on, up to seven 
or eight ; each one, the higher it ascends in the scale, 
becoming less distinct and more etherial in its nature, 
and resembles that generated in the human brain, to 
serve as the connecting medium between mind and 
matter, as will be more fully considered in a subse- 
quent lecture. 

From this brief review, we are naturally led to the 
conclusion that electricity, variously modified, is the 



4g ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

great and all pervading agent, that carries the laws of 
nature into execution. Indeed, when God created the 
heavens and brought forth this world out of chaos ; 
when he said, " let there be light and there was light ;" 
when he created man after his own likeness, and gave 
him power over every living creature ; he also estab- 
lished certain immutable laws by which all things 
should be governed. But wherefore the laws without 
the executive power to put them in operation. But 
His wisdom and foresight were not at fault. He at the 
same time created that subtle agent we have named 
to pervade all matter, time and space, under whose 
controlling influence, every animal, and plant and 
tree, and all things that live, and move, and have a 
being, might w T ork out their destiny in obedience to 
those Jaws, without any further especial providential 
care. For we are not to suppose there is an especial 
act of providence to direct every crook and turn of the 
devious path of the life of man ; that he personally 
watches over the budding and the bloom of every little 
flower, from the germination of the seed to the full 
maturity of the reproduction of its kind ; that he su- 
perintends the ebb and flowing of the tide — the heav- 
ings of the mighty ocean, or takes cognizance of every 
organic and inorganic change that is taking place every 
second of time, in every spot upon the wide face of crea- 
tion. We are not even to suppose that God sits upon 
his great white throne and directly notes down all the 
actions of men ; or that there is a mighty angel in 
heaven, recording his good and evil deeds in the Book 
of Life. No, for every departure from the simple dic- 
tates of nature, every violation of her laws — is as surely 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 49 

and as accurately recorded upon the moral being, as if 
an angel scribe in heaven had done it. For who can 
yield to appetite and not feel every power of his being 
prostrated? Who can act the sluggard and not feel 
his energies blunted ? Who can walk in the paths of 
iniquity and not pay the forfeit of morality and virtue ? 
The heart, therefore, at that great accounting day, will 
be laid open, as it were, a mighty mirror, in which are 
reflected the good and evil of a lifetime. 

This militates not against the doctrines of Christian- 
ity, and savors not of materialism ; though it would 
make religion itself a science ; not, indeed, of material- 
ity, but of morality and the workings of the spirit in 
connexion with the organization of matter, as found 
in human life. Need reference be made to the abor- 
igines of America, who acknowledged, in the untutor- 
ed simplicity of their hearts, a superior being, and wor- 
shipped with more than the zeal of a christian his 
Kishe Manitou; or to the Hindoo who falls down and 
adores his Pagoda, and in his blind zeal suffers himself 
to be crushed to death, beneath the ponderous wheels 
of the Juggernaut. Is there any nation, savage, bar- 
barous or civilized, wherever found and for whom the 
light of Christianity has never shown, yet who do not 
feel in their own hearts a sense of right and wrong, 
and it must be admitted ttftit religion and morality are 
not of natural origin. 

But though, they be a science, how unlike those of 
material things. How much more sublime, how holy, 
how divine! The genius of man has been sufficient for 
the developement of nature. Thus we owe the per- 
fection of Mathematics, to Newton, Lavoisier, Laplace 
2 



5(J ELECTRO-BIOLOGY, 

and others ; Galvanism, to Galvani, Farady and Davy ; 
Botany, to Linnaeus, and Hippocrates has been styled 
the father of Medicine. But religion, though it was 
planted in the garden of Paradise, with the tree of the 
knowledge of good and evil, though it was revealed to 
Moses, on Mount Sinai, in tbunderings and lightnings, 
and spoken by Isaiah's hallowed lips, of old ; though it 
was sung in the Psalms of David and taught in the 
Proverbs of Solomon, yet for its perfection, a God- 
made man, was required. Neither do these views 
come in conflict with the doctrine of repentance and the 
forgiveness of sin ; for even as the body is restored to 
health when in sickness, and the wrong action of the 
functions of life reversed by external agents, called 
medicines? so do repentance and prayer, reverse the 
the wrong action of the corrupted heart, and restore it 
again to innocence and the Grace of God. 

So far, therefore from the revelations of science, lead- 
ing the mind astray from the teachings of the Gospel, 
they do but harmonize with them. The more is 
known of the material world, the stronger must be the 
conviction, that in the state of knowledge, at the time 
the scriptures were written, and the humble capacities 
of many of the writers, that nothing less than the in- 
spiration of the Almighty could have dictated them. 
And whoever will go to«the investigation with the 
book of science in one hand, and the Bibje in the 
other, unless he be wilfully blind, must meet at every 
step, new beauties in each that correspond with the 
other, and he must necessarily progress onward, even 
to the perfection of his nature. 

Gravitation was incidentally mentioned as being the 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 5t 

lowest order or modification of Electricity, and Sii 
Isaac Newton has described its action, as accurately 
perhaps as human genius or knowledge can ever do it. 
But of the nature of the agent itself, we can never pro- 
bably arrive at any^atisfactory result, since it finds in 
nature no one substance, that is a better conductor of it 
than another, and since no natural or artificial conduc- 
tor of it has yet been discovered, we are unable to car- 
ry the investigation any farther than to determine its 
effects on external objects. But reasoning from analo- 
gy we are led to the belief that it is also a subtle fluid 
like Galvanism and Magnetism, and is not the fact of 
its finding no conductor in nature, a proof that it is the 
lowest order of Electricity — a wonderful example of 
the goodness of the great Creator. Doubtless did it find 
one, that substance if a perfect conductor, would not 
be brought down to the earth subservient to its power, 
but would remain suspended without any visible sup- 
porter, in middle air. And if all things were conduc- 
tors, or if there were no such thing as the gravitating 
fluid, (which it is assumed to be) one revolution of the 
earth on its axis, or one single motion in its orbit would 
be sufficient to scatter every particle of earth, rocks, 
trees, animals, and everything, to the interminable 
bounds of space. Mark then that the sphere of action 
of gravitation is perpendicular to the surface of the 
earth, and extends from the centre to the farthest limits 
of the atmosphere that surrounds it, and probably fills 
all space. And in the unity of action with the other 
modifications of Electricity binds together the motions 
of all the planets in one grand totality, while its pecu- 



52 ELECTRO -BIOLOGY. 

liar action is to keep the earth in its globular form, 
and all things on its surface in their proper place. 

Man has been called a Microcosm or little world in 
himself, and so may every thing be considered, so far 
as terrestrial gravitation is concerned. For the drops 
of rain, as they descend from the clouds, and the mol- 
ten lead in falling from the shot tower, exhibit in them- 
selves, a miniature specimen of a perfect little world, — 
for call it the attraction of cohesion, or whatever else 
you please, that causes the particles of matter, when 
left free to move among themselves, to assume the glo- 
bular form, if rightly examined, will be found to pre- 
sent the same phenomena as gravitation upon a large 
scale, as displayed in the earth, the larger planets, or 
the sun himself, the light and centre of the solar system. 

Though the genius of philosophy has not been able 
to discover, in the remotest degree, the essential pro- 
perties of gravity, yet the ingenuity and skill of man 
have applied it to many useful and important purposes. 
The clock is a most familiar example, for the weights 
descend and the pendulum keeps in motion by one and 
the same mysterious agency. 

Magnetism we infer to be the next order in the as- 
cending scale; for we have seen that it finds in nature 
three conductors — one perfect, — which is iron — two 
imperfect, viz : nickel and cobalt. From this circum- 
stance, its properties have been more accurately esti- 
mated. Its motion we have seen, is with the meridi- 
ans, or in a northerly and southerly direction. Of its 
specific action on the earth, we know but little; yet, 
since it is so universally diffused, and powerful an agent, 
there can be no doubt, that it acts a most important 



ELECTRO -BIOLOGY. 53 

part on our globe; and, while it passes round and 
round the earth, it probably extends to other spheres, 
like gravitation, and faithfully executes its appointed 
duties in the motions of the heavenly bodies. At the 
same time that it acts on such a magnificent scale, 
each drop of water suspended in the air, and every 
globule of matter, has its magnetism in miniature pass- 
ing round it, as each has its peculiar gravitation; the 
earth being no more, when suspended in the bound- 
less space, to the whole creation, than a drop of water 
is to it. And although, through the vast bounds of 
creation, it probably extends from sphere to sphere, and 
like the bands around the wheels of a machine, it 
serves to give motion to the whole; it has also, by inge- 
nuity and skill, been reduced to many practical purpo- 
ses, as in the mariners' and surveyors' compasses, &c. 
Galvanism is a still higher link in the Electrical 
chain, since it finds in nature, many conductors. 
Many more of its sensible properties have therefore 
been ascertained; and of its utility in the economy of 
creation, we have already seen many familiar examples. 
We shall presently show, that it exercises a wonderful 
influence in producing the motions of the earth, as a 
whole, as well as of its particles, in regard to itself. It 
has also, no doubt, its influence in the motions of the 
planets, suns, moons, and stars. Experiment has long 
since demonstrated, that its course through the atmos- 
phere is neither perpendicular to the earths' surface, 
like gravitation, nor north and south, like Magnetism; 
but nearly at right angles to them, or east and west 
with the parallels. This fact may readily be proved by 
placing a rod of any metal in a north and south direc- 



5 [ ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

lion, some eight or ten feet above the ground. It will 
exhibit Electrical phenomena. The metal being a good 
conductor, catches the fluid as it passes along; and if 
the ends of the wire be bent and buried in the ground, 
its effects on vegetation, for some distance around, will 
he sensibly perceived. These facts will not be observ- 
ed if the wire is placed in an east and westerly direc- 
tion — clearly proving that the currents are east and 
west. 

Neither Galvanism nor Magnetism, so far as we 
know, is capable of itself, of producing rotary motion 
in any body. A Magnet might forever be a Magnet: 
and a current of Galvanism might forever be passed 
through a piece of iron fixed on points, yet, no motion 
would be produced. But let a current of Galvanic 
fluid be passed through a Magnet so placed and it in- 
stanily begins to revolve with great rapidity. Now the 
acid we have seen used in the battery is not necessarily 
required to excite the Galvanic currents in two pieces of 
metal or other substances. If two pieces of metal be 
held at an angle, with their united ends in a lighted 
candle, a strong current from one to the other will be 
excited, like that produced by the acid. It is therefore 
recognized as a well established fact, that the rays of 
the sun, acting with fervid heat at the equator, upon 
the land and various minerals in its bosom, excite a 
strong Galvanic current from east to west — orThermo- 
Electric current as it is usually called. The re-action 
of this current upon the whole earth, considered as a 
Magnet, produces its rotary motion, which is from west 
to east; and the secondary current round the primary 
one at the equator, gives rise to all the phenomena of 



ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 55 

terrestrial Magnetism. Further, we. will add, that when 
a strong Galvanic current is passed through a helix, the 
secondary current has the power of drawing an iron 
rod into the helix, and there sustaining it without 
touching any thing or having any visible support. 
Thus have considerable weights been suspended; and 
if such has been done by man with this machine, and 
if such can be done by so insignificant a creature, who 
can doubt that the great " I am" " who spake and it 
was done," did at creation's dawn suspend Electrically 
and Magnetically, and still supports and moves un- 
numbered worlds, with such regularity and precision, 
that the motions of the one shall not disturb the har- 
mony of the whole. 



LECTURE IV 



A sketch of the human body. — The spiritual body. — The connecting 
link. — Experiment of Dubois. — JL real living self-acting Gal- 
vanic Battery. — Two different surfaces collecting and giving out 
different forces. — An Electro Magnetic Machine. — Secondary 
Currents, 8fC. — Various Philosophical Experiments, showing 
that all the functions of life are carried on by Electricity. 

When we take into consideration the physical na- 
ture of man, and investigate the structure of his body, 
independent of the invisible, etherial and spiritual 
principle, that gives it life and motion, we shall find it 
to be a piece of mechanism of the most perfect and 
delicate workmanship. First, we shall find the osseous 
or bony structure — the frame work and support of all 
the other parts — admirably proportioned, fitted and 
bound together by the various ligaments, into hinge 
and ball and socket joints, so as to admit of every va- 
riety of simple and compound motion. Xext we find, 
suspended on the bones, the cellular membranes, so 
arranged in their disposition, as to serve as a mould, in 
which are cast the various organs and muscles of the 
body, that give beauty and symmetry of form. The 
muscles, we find of every form and size, to suit the 
locality and use for which they were intended, now 
swelling out in their centre, to give power of action, 
then contracting towards their ends into strong and ten- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 57 

ilinous cords, affording compactness and strength to the 
joints. The digestive and nutritive apparatus, through 
which all the growth of the body must come, and all 
its wear and tear, from infancy to age, must be repair- 
ed, is still more complicated and wonderful in its con- 
si ruction. The hands first, grasp the food and convey 
it to the mouth; the lips and tongue receive if, the 
incisor and molar teeth tear and grind it into a pultace- 
ous mass; the fauces, with their contracting and con- 
stricting muscles, force it down the oesophagus to that 
universal reservoir, possessing more than the powers of 
a chemist's alembic — the stomach. Here, from thou- 
sands of little glands, an acrid liquor, called the gastric 
juice, is poured out, chemically to decompose it, with 
the aid of the mechanical vermicular motions of the 
muscular coats. By this process, the food is converted 
into chyme, and in this condition, passes into the duo- 
denum or second stomach, through the pyloric orifice. 
Then comes the process of chemical changes, and by 
a sort of precipitation, the separation of the nutritious 
from the excrementitions portions of the food. This is 
effected by the pancreatic juice and the bile. Next, as 
the food passes on, down the alimentary canal, mil- 
lions of little mouths take in whatever is suited to the 
nourishment and repair of the system. These little 
mouths, or villi, have as many minute lubes proceed- 
ing from them, which unite into larger ones, in the 
mesenteric glands ; these again form larger ducts, at 
proper intervals, until they all unite into one — the tho. 
racic duct. The food, in the mean- time, has been 
converted into chyle— the wheat has been separated 
from the chaff— it is now in a fit condition to enter the 



58 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

circulation of the blood, and answer the various purpo- 
ses of life. This takes place at the junction of the 
thoracic duct with the subclavian vein, where ate 
placed two valves, to prevent its regurgitation. 

In the circulatory system we find the heart, the great 
central organ, constructed on the most perfect princi- 
ple of the double suction and forcing pump. The 
blood collecting from all parts of the body, through 
the veins, is drawn into the right auricle, thence passes to 
the right ventricle, which, by its powerful contracting 
and forcing muscles, propels the blood into the lungs, 
through the pulmonary arteries, to undergo the process 
of decarbomzation and oxygenation. It is then 
drawn through the pulmonary veins into the left auri- 
cle; the left ventricle next receives it. This having 
the greatest labor to perform, has still more powerful 
muscles to force the blood now fraught with living fire, 
through the aorta and its branches, to the farthest parts 
of the system. 

Lastly, we shall notice the most delicate structure of 
all — the nervous system. And from the situation its 
principal portions occupy, we may readily conjecture 
its vast importance. We shall find the brain, the great 
regulator of the whole, encased in a thick and solid 
bony structure — the skull, which is of a spherical form? 
the best to resist external violence. The spinal chord 
proceeds from the brain, down its appropriate channel 
in the spinal column, which is composed of twenty- 
seven different bones to afford freedom of motion and 
secuiity to its contents. The nerves branch out from 
the brain and spinal chord, and spread out into a kind 
of net work in all parts of the body, in such minute 






ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 59 

ramifications, that you could not put down the point of 
the finest cambric needle without wounding some of 
their branches. This is but an outline of man's ma- 
terial part. There are other organs, such as the lungs, 
liver, spleen, the eye, ears, &c, which are equally re- 
quisite for the full development of the phenomena of life. 
Suffice it, however, here to say that, they are all ad- 
mirably constructed to perform the duties and uses of 
their design in the organization of the human body. 

But what of ail this finely wrought material, this 
most perfect of all mechanism, not made by the hand 
of man, but of God. Of itself it is dead, inert matter, 
destitute of life and motion, of no more power of ac- 
tion, than the common clay of which it was formed, or 
the dust, to which it must return. And as every ma- 
chine, of whatever kind or construction, must have a 
power to put it in motion*, so must there be, of neces- 
sity, in man, a separable and distinct power to produce 
in his body the sum total of forces, we denominate life. 
When God created Adam, out of the dust of the earth; 
when he had fashioned his material body, as we have 
described it in all its various parts; there was still a 
something wanting — it was life. And he breathed in- 
to him the breath of life. Behold! the first pulsations 
of the beating heart; the blood now crimsoned in the 
expanding chest to animate the quickening clay; the 
opening eye, rolling in its orbit, the unstopped ear, 
strung to the music of nature: and perfect in every or- 
gan, its part to act, man stands erect, a living soul, and 
surveys, intelligibly surveys, the splendors of creation's 
dawn — that living soul, a fragment of Omnipotence, a 



(50 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

part and parcel of himself— a spirit after his own im- 
age and likeness. 

We gather, therefore, from the history of the creation, 
as given by the sacred historians, as recorded in the 
Bible, that there are in man's body, two distinct, prin- 
ciples, or organizations; the one, material, mechanical 
and of the earth — earthly; the other, immaterial, spirit- 
ual and of God — godly. We also find from the laws 
that govern man in his relation to the material world, 
that there must be a connecting link, a medium of 
communication between the material and the spiritual, 
through which all the phenomena of life are produced. 
Through which the various muscles of the face, dis- 
play the impassioned thought, and mind her empire 
holds, and gives a tangible form to the creations of her 
fancy, and hope, fear, joy, rage, love, hate, ambition, 
find a physical embodiment, through which the brow, 
its angry frown displays, the mouth its smiles, the lip 
its scorn, the eye, the cosmorama of the soul, flashes 
with rage, beams with intelligence, sparkles with wit, 
or grows pensive with grief and melancholy. In fine, 
through which all the impressions from external ob- 
jects are conveyed by the various organs, to the internal 
or spiritual existence. 

What that connection or medium is, and whether 
direct or indirect, we come now to consider. We hold 
it to be indirect, and maintain that spirit cannot come 
in contact with matter, so as to give it motion, nor mat- 
ter come in direct contact with spirit or soul, so as to 
awaken thought in the mind, but that they reciprocally 
affect each other through electrical agency. We do not 
however pretend to say, that it is that grosser sort, as 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 6 i 

found in unorganized bodies, but a purer, more etherial, 
and as it were a vital galvanism, manufactured by the 
living organism, out of common electricity, so modifi- 
ed in its nature, as to suit the higher purposes of life. 
We come to this conclusion from a variety of circum- 
stances. Every square inch of air we take in at each 
inspiration, is more or less charged with electricity. In 
the lungs, very important chemical changes take place. 
The air is decomposed j the oxygen unites with the 
blood, converting its superabundant carbon into car- 
bonic acid, and giving it its florid red appearance, while 
the carbonic acid and the nitrogen are thrown out 
again at every expiration. The electricity thus set free 
by these changes, renders the iron, the coloring matter 
of the blood, magnetic, and is thus carried through the 
entire system. And thus, while the oxygen creates in 
the blood a kind of acidity, as it were, similar to the solu- 
tion of sulphate of copper in the Galvanic Batteiy; the 
blood itself gives off by its friction, the Electro-Magnetic 
power, to the nervous system, for which it has a strong 
affinity, and as Dodd further observes, being secreted 
by the brain, it becomes the nervo-vital fluid, or animal 
Galvanism. This is universally admitted to be the 
highest order of Electricity, and is the highest and most 
etherial inert substance of which we can form any con- 
ception; and being the next step to spirit, is fit to come 
in contact with it, and therefore, must be the connect- 
ing link between mind and matter. Few will be found 
at the present day, to deny the existence of some me- 
dium, for the dead man's spirit, cannot move his body, 
when the connecting link has been broken that bound 
it to its clayey tenement, although every organ and 



r,v ELECTRO -BIOLOGY. 

(issue are yet perfect. Nor can I, by my will alone> 
move that bench or chair directly, I might will, and 
will forever, and it would not move ; but I can move 
either by the intervention of other substances. The 
spirit wills, the will stirs the nervo-vital fluid in the vo- 
luntary nerves, the nervous fluid render the muscles 
Electro-Magnetic and they contract, the muscles con- 
tracting, raise the arm and the arm moves inert matter. 
Thus it can only be through a connecting medium 
that the mind can influence inert matter. It is equally 
obvious to every one that has investigated the subject, 
that it is by means of Galvanism that the muscle 
is made to contract, and therefore, must of necessity 
be the connecting medium. This has been clearly il- 
lustrated time after time, by actual experiment It is 
common, when criminals are executed, that their 
bodies are delivered over to medical men for experi- 
ment and dissection. Now let a human body be con- 
veyed from the gallows to the dissecting table. Let 
a strong, continuous shock from a powerful Gal- 
vanic Battery be given, and the muscles of the dead 
man will contract and exhibit many freightful contor- 
tions. Instances have occured in which the dead 
man would spring upon his knees, make violent mo- 
tions with his hands, roll his eyes, move his head, chat- 
ter his teeth, and even make frightful groans, so that 
the experienced physician has started back in horror 
at the sight he himself had caused ; while the student 
has fainted away for fear, or left the room. Now what 
was it. that contracted the muscles of the dead man? 
It could have been nothing else than the Galvanic cur- 
rent, sent through the nerves in the place of the nervous 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 03 

iluid, which rendered the muscles Electro-Magnetic, 
and hence give rise to the motions we have described. 
Yet more striking results occur in the living subject. 
In the dead man, the artificial current merely supplied 
the place of the natural one — but in the living, it will, 
when passed along the course of the nerves, if more 
powerful, entirely supersede the vital fluid and produce 
contraction, in spite of every effort of the will to pre- 
vent it. Hence we draw the irresistible conclusion, 
that the two are not only analagous in their nature, 
that the one can supply the place of the other,and that 
the more powerful, will supersede the other, but that 
us Galvanism is the only agent yet known, which can, 
when artificially applied, contract the muscles of the 
living, so it must be the medium of communication by 
which the will controls the motions of the body. But 
were any further proof required, the experiment of 
Dubois, as communicated to the Academy of Science, 
at Paris, would be sufficient to convince any one not 
ignorantly and willfully unbelieving. The description 
is as follows: "Fix to the two extremities of a sensitive 
Galvanometer, two strips of platinum; plunge these 
slips into tumblers of salt water, and then introduce 
into the water the corresponding fingers of each hand; 
let them remain until the fluctuations of the needle 
cease. Then contract the muscles of one arm by an 
effort of the will, and the deviation of the needle will 
instantly indicate a contrary current of electricity in that 
arm. The amount of deviation depends on the mus- 
cular development and the power of the contractions. " 
Scientific American, * 



04 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

In tracing this subject still further, we shall find that 
man, himself, is a real, living, self-acting Galvanic 
Battery, of the most delicate and skilful workmanship. 
On viewing his body externally, we shall find it cover- 
ed with a membranous, complex structure, called the 
skin. The skin is composed of three distinct layers; 
but besides these, there are also found in it, innumer- 
able, minute, globular bodies, called papillary glands. 
These little bodies are found to be highly organized, 
having minute arteries terminating, and minute veins 
commencing in their structure. They are also seen by 
means of magnifying glasses of great power, to have 
minute ducts issuing from and terminating every where 
with open mouths on the surface of the skin. If we 
examine the various organs, as the brain, heart, lungs, 
liver, spleen, &c, we find them all, without a solitary 
exception, covered with a kind of skin called a serous 
membrane, in which are situated incalculable numbers 
of minute glands, as described, in the skin, with orifi- 
ces terminating on the surface of these membranes. 
These little glands, of both structures, are found to se- 
crete a watery fluid, by which these surfaces are con- 
stantly kept in a moist state, — and the great quantity 
seen running ofT the skin, when a person is in a free 
perspiration, and its accumulation in dropsy, water on 
the brain, &c, show how well they are constructed to 
perform their specific duties, and how much they can 
overdo their office when excited to undue action. If 
we in like manner go on to examine the membrane 
which lines the internal parts of the body, we shall find 
it analagous in structure to the serous membranes. 
There is a slight modification, however, which consists 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 65 

in its having what is called a villous, instead of a se- 
rous surface. The whole of the alimentary canal, in- 
cluding the mouth, oesophagus, stontach, &c, is lined 
with this membrane, as well as the internal part of 
every organ, including the ventricles of the brain. This 
is called the mucous membrane, and like the skin and 
serous membranes, it has also numerous little round or 
oval glands, or villi, as they are sometimes called. 
These villi, like the papillary glands of the skin, have 
their appropriate arteries and veins, and ducts termina- 
ting with open orifices on the surface. They are fur- 
ther characterized, says Sherwood, by numerous little 
cavities, crypts or follicles, which are found to be filled 
with a semi-fluid or mucous, which is constantly issu- 
ing from them, and spreads out upon and lubricates 
the membranous surfaces. 

We have now traced two different kinds of surfaces, 
disposed in different ways, and covered with two different 
kinds of fluids, just as we find in the Galvanic Battery, 
two different kinds of plates, — zinc and copper — and as 
in Grove's Battery, the most perfect and powerful yet 
invented, two different kinds of fluids, the one acid, the 
other alkaline. 

Now, upon an investigation of the nature- of the two 
fluids secreted by these different kinds of membranes, 
that from the skin and serous membranes is more or 
less acid, and that from the mucous, more or less alkaline, 
and in disease they sometimes become remarkably so. 
The acid is the muriatic, and the alkali is soda and mu- 
riate of soda or common salt. The acids and alkalies 
possess directly opposite properties, yet have the strong- 
est affinity for each other. They are universally diffused 
throughout the animal, vegetable and mineral king- 



(36 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

doms, and constitute two grand divisions of matter : one 
of which, the acid, is called negative matter, and the 
other, the alkalies* positive matter. It is also a well 
known fact, that the positive matter constantly gives 
out a negative force, and the negative matter a positive 
force. Thus the positive or alkaline mucous on the 
inside of ihe body and organs, is constantly giving out 
negative force, and the negative or acid fluid, on the 
outside of the body and organs, the positive force. Is 
this not perfectly in accordance with the principles of 
the Galvanic Battery? For we have not only found 
two different kinds of surfaces or plates, but we have 
also found each to collect a different kind of force, 
which is Galvanic, just as the copper plate in the bat- 
tery, is negative, and collects and gives out the positive 
force, and the zinc plate, the negative force. From 
the brain and spinal chord, proceed the nerves, which 
spread out into a kind of net work on these surfaces so 
minutely, as we have' already said, that the point of 
me finest needle would wound many of their filaments. 
These nervous branches serve the purpose of the con- 
dueling wire in the Galvanic Battery, and convey the 
fluid generated and collected on the positive and nega- 
tive surfaces of the body, to the brain, and from the 
brain back again to any part of the system the will 
may direct. The analogy, therefore, between the hu- 
man body and a properly constructed battery, is as per- 
fect as can well be imagined could exist, between an 
organized and unorganized existence. 

But this is not all. We can go still farther, and 
trace an equally perfect resemblance between man and 
an Electro-Magnetic machine. If, as we have shown 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 67 

in a former lecture, a current of Galvanism be sent 
along an insulated wire, and that wire be wrapped into 
a coil or helix, and a piece of iron put into the helix, 
it instantly becomes magnetic and exhibits north and 
south polarity. Let, therefore, a number of little iron 
balls be so arranged in the helix, as to admit of free- 
dom of motion, let the current be sent through the 
wire, and each little ball becomes a Magnet and pre- 
sents an opposite polarity to the other, these opposite 
polarities attract and consequently the balls instantly 
rush together. Now the same thing precisely occurs 
when we wish to produce contractions of the muscles 
in any part of the body. Every muscle is composed 
of minute threads or filaments, forming a kind of 
sheath, in which are disposed, at a little distance from 
each other, a number of little globules of a spheroidal 
shape. The globules are colored by the iron they 
contain, and give redness to the muscles. Around the 
cellular sheath, are wound the attenuated extremities 
of the nerves as they proceed from their centres and 
branch out to every part of the system, forming as it 
were, innumerable helices, in which these minute glo- 
bules are arranged by nature's most omnipotent architect 
to become Magnetic. Experiment has satisfactorily 
shown, that any body, should it contain but a three 
hundred thousandth part of iron, it is capable of be- 
coming Magnetic. Now, therefore, when we wish to 
bend the arm, for instance, the will stirs up motion in 
the brain — the brain sends a current of the nervous or 
galvanic fluid down the nerves, and round and round 
the minute helices of the muscles —the globules they 
contain, since they are partially composed of iron, in- 



(38 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

smntly become magnetic and attract each other, and 
this produces contraction in the muscles and motion in 
the arm. 

We have already seen in the Electro-Magnetic ma- 
chine, most commonly used for medical purposes, (he 
second coil or helix of fine wire, receiving from the 
fust, which it surrounds, the secondary, current, or 
Magneto- Electricity, as developed by the temporary 
Magnetism of the soft iron, and conveyed by its proper 
wires and applied to disease at the will of the operator. 
This secondary current is also thrown into the form of 
shocks, by the vibrating armature of the machine al- 
ternately breaking and closing the primary current. 
So also does it appear that the brain, being of a more 
delicate and highly organized structure, acts the part 
of the second helix, and manufactures out of the gal- 
vanism, generated by the positive and negative surfaces, 
a kind of Magnetic-Electricity. The will also, acting 
more perfectly the part of a vibrating armature, alter- 
nately sends along the different nerves the vital power 
to any or every part, at its pleasure, and thus controls 
the motions of the body. For instance, we wish to 
bend the arm — the will directs a current of Magneto- 
Electricity, down the nerves that are distributed to the 
flexor muscles, round the innumerable helices of which 
they are composed; the minute globules, partly iron, 
become Magnetic and attract each other, and conse- 
quently bend the arm, with a power in proportion to 
the volume and perfection of the muscle and the 
amount of the will or nervous power applied. The 
same thing precisely, that is found in the Magnetic ma- 
chine. The piston is generally made of a bundle of 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 69 

wires, resembling the muscles, and the more powerful 
the current from the Battery, the more power is given 
to the Magnet, the greater its attraction, and the heavier 
weight will it sustain. The extensor muscles in the 
mean time, having no current playing on them, are 
not Magnetic, their globules do not attract and conse- 
quently offer no resistance, except what may be need- 
ed mechanically, to extend them. Now suppose we 
wish to extend the arm. The will, of course, shuts off 
or breaks the circuit round the flexors — they are demag- 
netized, and their attraction ceases; the extensors are in 
the meantime magnetized, and the arm is extended, 
upon the same principle it was flexed. Is not the an- 
alogy, therefore, between man and an Electro-Magnetic 
machine, correct beyond a doubt. The one, however, 
was fashioned by an almighty hand, and is the most 
perfect work of God, with power to control its own 
working in a state of health; the other is but the handi- 
craft of man, imperfect as he is imperfect, but an imi- 
tation of its prototype, as he is but the image of his 
maker. But how beautiful the idea; how wisely or- 
dained, that we should receive our impressions fiom, 
and hold communion with the crude and unorganized 
material world around us, by common electricity, as 
we inhale it at every breath, as its vibrations enter the 
eye at every sight we see, or the ear at every sound we 
hear; and in the system, by the mysterious workings 
of the brain and the organs, converted into a more 
etherial element, fit to connect the material of organ- 
ized existence with mind, thought, and soul, — and 
form a union with the spirit world and its great creator, 



70 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

God. Let man, therefore bow down in humble admi- 
ration to him who, in his wisdom hath made them all/ 

We have thus far, principally confined our observa- 
tions to the production of muscular motion, by means 
of Electricity. We shall now make some extracts from 
well known authors, to show that the other func- 
tions of life are performed through the same agency. 
Indeed, there can be no doubt but that they all are. 

The first experiment we shall quote, is related in 
Mcintosh's Electrical Theory of the Universe, page 78. 

An individual raised on the fingers of four 
other persons. — The heaviest person of the party 
lies down upon two chairs, his legs supported by one, 
and his back by the other. Four persons, one at each 
leg and one at each shoulder, then try to raise him, 
and they find his dead weight to be very great from the 
difficulty they experience in supporting him. When 
he is replaced in the chair, each of the four persons 
takes hold of the body as before, and the person to be 
lifted gives two signals by clapping his hands. At the 
first signal, he himself and the four lifters begin to draw 
a long and full breath, — and when the inhalation is 
complete, or the lungs filled with air, the second signal 
is given for raising the person from the chair — to his 
own surprise and that of his bearers, he is raised with 
the greatest facility, as if he were no heavier than a 
feather. It is also declared that the experiment would 
not succeed if the person lifted were placed upon 
a board, and the strength of the individuals applied to 
the board. It is stated that it is necessary the bearers 
should communicate directly with the body to be raised. 
There is no explanation given of this curious fact, and 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 71 

we will not pretend to solve its mystery to a demonstra- 
tion. We have already said that we inhale Electricity 
at every breath, — that this Electricity is either equiva- 
lent to or manufactured into Galvanic power, and that 
it is through this power that we raise the arm. Now, 
therefore, the more there is taken in at a full breath 
the stronger a person can make himself. It is also pro- 
bably owing, in part to the impression made upon the 
belief of the lifters. Believing they can, they do. 
There is magic in the word can; there is a thousand 
weight in the word cant. We come now to more in- 
teresting facts. According to Ritter, the Electricity of 
the positive pole augments, whilst the negative dimin- 
ishes the action of life, tumefaction of parts is pro- 
duced by the former, depression by the latter. 

The pulse of the hand, he says, held a few minutes 
in contact with the positive pole, is strengthened; that 
of the one in contact with the negative is enfeebled; — 
the former is accompanied with a sense of heat, the 
latter with a feeling of coldness; — objects appear to a 
positively electrified eye, larger, brighter and red ; 
while to the one negatively electrified, they appear 
smaller, less distinct, and bluish, indicating opposite 
extremities of the prismatic spectrum. The acid and 
alkaline tastes, when the tongue is acted on in succes- 
sion by the two Electricities, are well know T n and have 
been ingeniously accounted for by Sir Humphrey 
Davy, in his admirable Bakerian Lectures. The smell 
of oxy-murialic acid, and of ammonia, are said by 
Ritter to be opposite odors, excited by the two opposite 
poles, as a full body of sound and a sharp tone are the 
corresponding effects on the ear. 



72 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

We next quote from Dr. Wilson Philip, in respect 
to the effects of Galvanism on respiration and digestion. 
He says, "the eighth pair of nerves, distributed to the 
stomach and subservient to digestion, were divided by 
incisions in the necks of several living rabbits. After 
the operation, the parsley which they ate, was removed 
without alteration in their stomachs; and the animals, 
after evincing much difficulty of breathing, seemed to 
die of suffocation. But when, in other rabbits, sim- 
ilarly treated, the Galvanic power was transmitted along 
the nerve, below its section, to a disc of silver, placed 
closely in contact with the skin of the animal, opposite 
to its stomach, no difficulty of breathing occurred, — the 
voltaic action being kept up for twenty-six hours ; the 
rabbits were then killed, and the parsley was found in 
as perfectly digested a state as that in healthy rabbits, fed 
at the same time, and their stomachs evolved the smell 
peculiar to that of a rabbit during digestion. These ex- 
periments were repeated several times, with similar re- 
sults." "Hence," says Dr. Philip, "Galvanism seems 
capable of performing all the functions of the nervous 
influence in the animal economy. " 

But not only is Electricity capable of sustaining and 
carrying on the functions of life; it actually originates 
the animal organization. Mr. Alfred Smee, the in- 
ventor of the battery which bears his name, has an- 
nounced the following discoveries in animal Electricity. 
u By a test, which he terms electro-voltaic, he has dis- 
covered that the termination of the sensor nerves are 
positive poles of a voltaic circuit, whilst the muscular 
substance is the negative pole. The sensor nerves are 
the telegraphs, which carry the sensation to the brain, 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 73 

and the motor-nerves carry back volition to the muscles. 
The brain, he infers, to consist of five distinct voltaic 
circles, which, upon theoretical grounds, he believes to 
be sufficient to account for all mental phenomena. He 
has succeeded in making artificial electric fish and ar- 
tificial muscular substance. ,, 

Mr. Crosse has thrown still more light upon science, 
by his discoveries, in his researches into the process of 
crystallization. " He heated a flint to a white heat, 
and then plunged it into water to pulverize it. The 
silex, thus reduced, was saturated to excess, with muri- 
atic acid. The mixture was placed in a jar, a piece 
of flannel was suspended in it, one end of which ex- 
tended over the side, and thus by cappillary attraction, 
the liquor was slowly filtered, fell into a funnel, and 
thence dropped on a piece of ironstone from Mount 
Vesuvius, upon which were laid the two wires connect- 
ed with either pole of the battery. The ironstone had 
also been heated to a white heat, so that no germs of 
life could have existed upon it. On the 14th day, Mr. 
Crosse saw some small white specks upon the stone. 
Four days afterwards they had elongated and assumed 
an oval form. He concluded that they were incipient 
crystals. Great w T as his surprise on the 22nd day, to 
find eight legs projecting from each of these white 
bodies: still he could not believe that they were living 
beings. But on the 26th day, his surprise was com- 
plete; there could be no mistake; they moved, they fed, 
they were perfect insects. Eighteen or twenty of them 
have since appeared. Many have seen them, but there 
is no record of such an insect. It is in form something 
like a mite; it has eight legs, four bristles at the tail, 
4 



74 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

and the edges of the body are very bristly; its motions 
are .visible to the naked eye; its color is grey; its sub- 
stance is pulpy. It appears to feed upon the silicious 
particles of the fluid." 

"The most extraordinary circumstance in this phe- 
nomenon is the nature of the fluid in which this insect 
lives and thrives. The acid instantly destroys every 
other living being," 

" But a second trial has confirmed the fact beyond a 
doubt. Another portion of silex was prepared in the 
same manner, and reduced to a gelatinous form, but 
without the acid. A coil of silver wire was suspended 
in it from one of the poles of the battery, and the other 
pole was also immersed so as to send through the mass 
an incessant stream of the Electric fluid. About three 
weeks afterwards, Mr. O. examined the poles to search 
for crystals, and in one of the coils of wire he found 
one of these strange insects. This* proves that it is 
produced from the silex, and not from the acid." 

These experiments ought to satisfy the most incred- 
ulous, and certainly explain the mysteries of life much 
more philosophically than the old hobby of the "vital 
principle" and the "vis medicatrix naturae." We shall 
give an account of one more experiment, showing the 
effect of Electricity on vegetation. "Take a small 
quantity of mustard or cress seed, and steep it for a 
few days in diluted oxy-muriatic acid; sow it in a fine 
light soil, in a garden pot, cover it with a metallic 
cover, and bring it in contact with the prime conductor 
of an electric machine. The seed will spring up, as 
if by magic, and in the course of a few minutes the 
crop will be ready to cut — the salad will be fit to be 
put upon the table." 



LECTURE V 



Elective and directive affinity of mind. — Active and passive por- 
tions of brain. — Motion and thought, inseparable, — except the 
motion of nutrition. — haws of insulation. — Process of inducing 
the Magnetic state. — Method of operating. — Application to 
disease. — Motion and its effects. — Man not an isolated being. — 
JYature of the brain. — Discrimination of vibrations. — Special 
cerebral motion. — Philosophy of seeing ghosts. — Motion from 
loithin and motion from without. 

From a consideration of the foregoing principles, it 
must be evident to the least reflective mind, that the 
important and intimate relation, subsisting between 
mind and matter, is traceable to an electrical connex- 
ion. It has also been shown that the nerves are the 
Telegraphic wires, through which the communication 
is effected, for the division of a nerve at once cuts oft' 
all intercourse between the sensorium — the residence of 
mind, and the part to which the nerve is distributed. 
So that the will cannot have an actual contact, to in- 
fluence and control the voluntary motions of the 
body, but is subject to those vehicles of communication. 
In other respects it is not so limited in its operations, 
for it has both an elective and a directive affinity, sub- 
servient, however, to the great ruling power— mind. 
Thus, when an individual raises his arm in pre- 



76 ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

ference to any other part of the body, he is said to 
call in play the voluntary muscles of that particular 
part. And what are voluntary muscles, but those 
obedient to the will, and the will, but an attribute of 
of mind ? Hut here is exhibited a most perfect exam- 
ple of election and direction — election in preferring to 
move that particular portion of the body, and direction, 
by sending down through the nerves distributed to the 
arm, the electric current, to effect the motion intended. 
During this elective action of mind in the normal state, 
the other voluntary muscles are passive, and commu- 
nicate no sensation unless excited by stimuli. The 
process of nutrition and atomic motion, constituting 
the involuntary, is still going on, and the waste and re- 
pair of every organ and tissue is in a great measure un- 
affected by volition. What has been said of the mus- 
cular system, as it regards elective action, applies with 
equal force to the brain. As mind can only manifest 
itself in concert with the highest and most etherial 
agency, that agency requires a corresponding organism; 
hence we find the brain more highly organized than 
any other portion of the body, — consisting as it were of 
a conglomeration of nerves. This curious and deli- 
cately wrought mass, holding within its complexities, 
that mysterious and God like resident — mind, is divi- 
ded into lobes and organs, to each of which is assigned 
its appropriate office, of reasoning, recollecting, imagin- 
ing, hoping, just as we find in the muscular system 
one set of flexors, another of extensors, one to ex- 
pand the chest, and another to produce the harmony 
of sound. Now, as is familiar to every individual, 
one of these may be at rest while another is in motion. 



ELECTRO -BIOLOGY. 77 

So may one portion of the brain be passive while an- 
other may be very active. The passive portion of the 
brain can then no more give rise to thought, than the 
passive muscle be a medium of sensation. The mus- 
cle may be stimulated by almost any resisting power, 
and thus make its communication, whereas the medi- 
um of higher communication is by sound and shadow. 
To receive these impressions, a finer organization is 
required ; hence the eye is more highly organized than 
the hand, and the ear, to convey the vibrations of 
sound, requires corresponding perfection. The brain, 
we have said, is still more delicately formed to mani- 
fest the operations of mind, a superadded principle, so 
subtile in its character as to forever elude the knife of 
the mechanical and microscopic anatomist. Motion 
of the brain is as requisite to the production of thought 
as motion of the muscle is for flexion or extension ; in 
fact, motion and thought appear to be inseparable; that 
is to say, motion is an indispensable accompaniment of 
thought, yet there may be, and no doubt is motion of- 
the brain without thought; but it is that motion arising 
from nutrition — having its origin in the vegetative sys- 
tem of man. Some authors have ingeniously argued, 
however erroneously, that thought is not the result of 
motion of the brain, because, say they, the blood flows 
to the head and produces motion while we sleep, con- 
sequently we ought to think as well when asleep as 
awake. But they should remember that the same 
blood also during rest, is carried to every part of the 
body as well as to the brain, and produces the pheno- 
mena or motions of nutrition and secretion, without 
those of sensation or voluntary motion. Consequently, 



78 ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

there are in the system, two distinct motions, — the one 
involuntary, arising from the nerves of the base of the 
brain and spinal chord, uninfluenced by the will, and 
constantly going on, whether waking or sleeping, to 
repair the waste of secretion; the other arising from the 
superior portion of the brain, to be exercised at plea- 
sure — while waking, in thought and voluntary motion. 
These motions, whether voluntary or involuntary, ap- 
pear also to be inseparably connected with Electrical 
action. In the vegetable world, by the play of affini- 
ties between the particles of matter, Electrical currents 
are constantly evolved, as in the silent and vital changes 
in the germination of seeds, the respiration and growth 
of plants, decay and decomposition. For Poullet says: 
'/the surplus Electricity arising from a verdant area of 
one hundred square yards, is sufficient to charge a 
powerful battery" — and Faraday further declares that 
"the quantity necessary to separate a single grain of 
water, would produce a strong flash of lightning. " 
The same thing precisely takes place in the living sys- 
tem. Electricity is inhaled at every breath. It is dis- 
engaged by the decarbonization of the blood, evolved 
by the various processes of digestion, nutrition, secre- 
tion and excretion, under the control of the vegetative 
system, to be taken up by the voluntary and held in 
reserve, as occasion may serve, for the various purpo- 
ses of life, or to be again secreted by the brain for the 
higher manifestations of mind The hours of repose 
during the stillness of night, is the period chosen by 
nature for this accumulation of nervous energy. 
" Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep." 

Young. 



ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 79 

This accumulation is still further aided by the laws 
of insulation or Electro-retention, observed by nature 
in the construction of the human body. Prof. Means 
observes that it is particularly displayed in the contour 
of the body, the rotundity and smoothness of the sur- 
face being less favorable for its escape, than if it were 
pointed and rough. Even where use requires the parts 
to be pointed, (which is well known to Philosophers to 
be favorable to the escape of Electricity,) they are tipped 
with non-conductors, such as the hoofs of animals, the 
claws of beasts and birds, and the nails of the fingers. 
Marshall Hall says that "the organs of secretion are found 
with non-conducting investments. Besides the nervous 
sheath, the sanguiferous tubes, oleaginous accompani- 
ments of the exposed outposts of the system, are fenced 
in by a general subcutaneous expansion of adipose tis- 
sue, itself surmounted by a final and admirably insula- 
ting investment, the squamous cuticle." But experi- 
ment is the touchstone of Philosophy, and to this we 
shall now proceed, first showing the means by which 
the negative state of mind is most likely to be induced, 
and following a description of some of the most inter- 
esting experiments, by such comments as naturally 
grow out of the subject. 

The process or means of inducing the magnetic 
state commonly used by public lecturers, is as follows: 
If it is in a public audience, cause your subjects, or 
those willing to be experimented on, to sit together and 
as much removed from the audience as possible, as 
they are then less liable to be disturbed by trifling and 
inquisitive persons near them. Enjoin on the entire 
company the importance of the most perfect silence. 



gO ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

Request your subjects to sit in that position, least fati- 
guing to the muscles. Require them particularly to ob- 
serve the utmost quietness and submission, to lay aside 
all thought, to avoid all motions of the body or limbs, 
snapping of the eyelids, (fee. Then place a ?nagnetic 
button, in either hand, of all your subjects, upon which 
the eyes must be fixed for the space of fifteen or twenty 
minutes, they maintaining throughout, the strictest si- 
lence, thoughtlessness, and passiveness of body and 
mind. The magnetic button may be made to suit the 
fancy, out of copper and zinc — a dime, or anything 
else convenient; for there is, in reality, no inherent 
virtue in the button itself, as some lecturers really pre- 
tend and believe; but it is well, however, to give the 
impression that some singular power resides in the thing 
held, as such an impression is more likely to arrest and 
secure the attention of the sitters, and consequently 
more likely to effect the desired result. The audience 
should not only maintain profound silence throughout 
the sitting, but also during the experiments, —for ail 
noises tend to restore the negative electric brain to its 
proper balance, and spoil the interest of the spectators. 
After the lapse of fifteen or twenty minutes, approach 
your subject, gently remove the button, take hold of 
his right hand with your right, and raise it to a slight 
elevation; tell him to place his eyes in yours; assume 
yourself an air of seriousness and earnestness; pass your 
left hand gently along his arm and at the same time 
tell him that he feels a numbness or pain following 
your finger. If he says he does, you may conclude 
your subject is in a negative state, — that is, negative to 
impressions, and you may proceed to carry the numb- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 81 

ness across his shoulders, down the opposite arm and 
discharge it at the ends of his fingers. If you cannot 
by these assertions make any impression on him, that 
is, feel any numbness, it is best to leave him and go to 
the next, for he is but slightly magnetic, and you will 
have much difficulty in operating if you succeed at all. 
You may close the eyes by taking his hand as before, 
place the thumb of the left hand between the brows, 
gaze at him steadfastly a few seconds to engage his at- 
tention, then tell him to close his eyes, at the same time 
press gently with your thumb and say positively — "Now 
you cannot open them — no you can't, sir." Q,uickly 
remove the impression by a gentle slap on the shoulder. 
with the assertion — "now you can, sir." 

The experiments should be performed as rapidly as 
possible. The two already mentioned, are generally 
the easiest performed, but as has been already said, that 
some portions. of the brain may be magnetic and others 
not; so that the failure of one or both of these should 
not discourage the operator, as he may^ succeed in oth- 
ers. Before commencing any experiment or making 
any impression, you are more likely to succeed if you 
tell your subject to look steadily at you, as you thus 
secure his passiveness and re-charge the battery. 
Sometimes you will but partially succeed, for your 
subject may still have some control over himself. In 
that case, you must make him gaze at you steadily, — 
arrest and turn his attention, and double your assertions. 
For this reason, unless your subjects are highly mag- 
netic, your experiments should be short, for gradually 
consciousness will return, combat your assertion, and 

render your success less complete and satisfactory to the 
4 # 



32 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 

audience. Every impression you make, especially if 
it be triflings amusive, or any thing but one by which 
you intend to benefit, should be removed before ma- 
king a new one, and this can always be done by a slap 
on the shoulder, with "all right, sir." "Now you can 
sir.'? But to proceed, you may fasten your subject to 
his seat so that he cannot rise, by engaging his atten- 
tion, making a few passes down his legs, then tell him 
he cannot get up. Place his hands on his head, at the 
same time you do it yourself— then tell him he cannot 
take (hem down and he cannot. You may make any 
assertion you please if your subject is a good one and 
he will believe you. You may change the taste of 
water to that of wine, or vinegar to that of brandy, the 
various colors at your pleasure, the shape of substances 
to any thing you like, as a cap or a hat to a frog or a 
terrapin, a stick to a snake; the individual himself, no 
matter how humble or modest, may be , transformed 
into the dauntless and vaunting warrior, or the bashful 
lover into the impertinent wooer. In fact, the experi- 
ments may be varied to any extent, according to the 
ingenuity and skill of the operator ; his assertions will 
always have a magical effect, especially if he seem 
really to believe what he says, and accompanies it with 
corresponding action or gesture. For in this as in 
other things, the maxim of IJorace is true to the letter: 

"Si vis me flere 
Est tibi flere." 

"If you wish me to weep you must weep yourself." 

It is unnecessary to dwell longer on the mechanical 

part of the operating. Any one possessing a reasonable 

amount of common sense can vary the experiments 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. S3 

according to circumstances; Having in possession the 
key, it is only left for him skillfully to play the mechan- 
ical part to lend interest to his exhibition in producing the 
most startling phenomena. Success is always improved 
by practice, and a great number of lecturers look upon 
the production of these phenomena as the ne plus ultra 
of the science. Its principles and its practical utility 
they never aim to acquire, but to such we would say, if 
you succeed in inducing a magnetic state in any way un- 
looked for or alarming, never manifest any alarm your- 
self, (for remember your motions produce exact vibra- 
tions and impressions on your subject,) but endeavor by 
cheerfulness and assurance of '* all right," to restore 
your subject (o his natural and normal state. 

The truly philosophic and scientific mind should 
look a little deeper than the surface, and aim at some- 
thing more than mechanical operations. Its applica- 
tion to the removal of disease, is an auxiliary means, 
and justly belongs to the class of remedial agents. 
Many diseases may be cured and more relieved by its 
skillful application. But how is this to be effected? 
What is its philosophy? Here we have to combat the 
prejudices of those reared in the science and rules of 
the schools. They cannot perceive utility m anything 
not sanctioned by a name ancient and venerable only 
by age. But let them investigate the laws of health 
and disease, as founded in nature, and the true secret 
will be made apparent. 

The vis medicatrix naturae, being the resident power 
in the subject, these sittings in private may be turned to 
advantage by invalids; for if you produce the magnetic 
state, and by assertion make him forget his pain, it is a 



84 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 



remission, and if by repetition you can prolong his re- 
lief from suffering to an indefinite period, it is health. 
By making the assertion, by consequence impression, 
you can very often by operating on the belief of the 
patient set up a motion, that restores to health. But 
this may be better understood as we proceed in the 
consideration of the Philosophy of Impressions. 

What are we to gather from these numerous experi- 
ments? If rightly considered, they lead to the disco- 
very of important principles, concerned in the actions 
of men. It is true, they may be said to be extremes of 
a state or condition of mind, which in its normal state, 
receives and accredits the actions and words of another. 
But they lead to practical results, and are illustrative of 
the nature of impressions, by which the few have con- 
trolled the many in all ages of the world. 

That a state of mind above alluded to, can be in- 
duced, any one wishing to know the truth, can readily 
test, having a little practice and becoming acquainted 
with the mechanical process. If human testimony be 
competent to establish the existence of such phenome- 
na, then its existence has been supported by the solemn 
declaration of witnesses who have experienced its ef- 
fects, and whose veracity is unquestionable. But 
we do not beg the question on the issue of an expe- 
riment. Take some of the accredited facts of sacred 
and profane history, and what are they but instances 
of an exhibition of the same phenomena, brought 
about by a different combination of circumstances. 

Witness the effect of the cursings of the ancient 
priesthood upon criminals spoken of by Anacharsis. 

" The Priesthood of Athens by an order of the Ma- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 85 

gistracy, looking towards the west, would shake their 
purple robes, and doom to the infernal deities the crim- 
inal and all his posterity. From that moment the fu- 
ries were supposed to seize upon him and his connex- 
ions, and never abate their torments, but with the total 
extinction of his race." 

The button which an individual may hold, the chair 
in which he sits, the silence of the room, are but so 
many circumstances, possessing in themselves no in- 
trinsic merit, apart from the resident forces in the body 
of the subject, they simply conspire to induce passive- 
ness of the brain. Any other agent or combination of 
agents or circumstances would have the same effect, act- 
ing on the same principle, nay more, and far more per- 
manent as we shall show in the course of these lec- 
tures. 

Before, however, entering into the philosophy of im- 
pressions, we shall have to speak of motion and its ef- 
fects, and here we will make a few extracts from the 
interesting work of Dr. Lardner on the effect of motion 
in producing vision, &c. "The sun or lamp," says 
he "acting on this ether, (that is, the connecting 
medium between the earth and sun,) puts it into a 
state of pulsation, the vibrations passing through it 
as those of sound through the air. This pulsaiion 
is propagated to the eye, reaches the retina and puts 
that, delicate membrane into a state of tremulous mo- 
tion, which is the proximate cause of impression of 
light, produced in the mind. The various colors, 
blue, green, &c, are nothing more than the effects 
of the different rates of pulsation imparted to the 
retina. The vibrations varying in individuals have 



g5 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

led to different impressions in regard to colors. There 
are hundreds of persons who are never able to distin- 
guish by their colors, the cherries upon a tree from its 
leaves. The celebrated Dugald Stuart, the well 
known chemist Dalton — many other names might be 
mentioned, of persons who were unable to distinguish 
the different colors. By a little management we may 
be able to see bodies that do not exist, and if we take 
the evidence of the senses on these points, we should 
be lead to believe in all sorts of spectres — the effect 
of fictitious vibrations produced by various causes. 
Take a slick of red sealing-wax and place it between 
the eye and a sheet of white paper ; after keeping the 
eye steadily fixed on (he wax for a short time, look 
beside it, and you will see a stick of blue wax as dis- 
tinctly as you perceived the red wax. In this way 
a succession of spectres may be produced. Thus by 
looking steadily at a red wafer for a short time, you 
will be able to see beside it, the ghost of a blue wafer, 
and conversely a blue wafer will give birth to a red 
one — these two colors being correlative to each other. 
The retina by the action of the one is put into a state 
of morbid vibration, by which the effect is produced. 
It is explicable, by supposing that when the retina is 
put into a slate of pulsation, its motions continue for a 
short time just as a bell continues to ring for spme se- 
conds after it has been struck." 

The vibrations of the retina may be still further il- 
lustrated by an exceedingly interesting experiment. 
Let an individual stand upon an insulated stool, plac- 
ing his hand upon the knob of the principal conductor 
of an electric machine in motion and fixing his eye 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 87 

upon a revolving deeply serrated wheel — the rapidity 
of whose revolutions, will of course, give it the appear- 
ance of a perfectly solid surface. If then a spark be 
drawn from the eye, the wheel seems instantly to pause 
and presents the teeth perfect, with the intermediate 
spaces perfectly visible. What here, but an arrest of 
motion could give rise to this appearance. 

(l If two beams of light be admitted through small 
apertures in a screen, and be made to cross each 
other, under certain circumstances so that they fall upon 
the same point they destroy each other, and a black spot 
is observed at the point of intersection. If either of the 
beams be intercepted, the spot becomes luminous, but if 
both be allowed to fall upon it together it becomes black; 
either of the two will illuminate it. The two systems 
of waves or pulsations, here obliterate each other." 
A bell hung in an exhaused receiver, cannot be heard 
when rung by machinery, although that may be dis- 
tinctly seen in motion. Light, heat and electricity 
pass equally well through a vacuum, *s through the 
atmosphere, so that the eye must see through a higher 
o.r different medium from that which produces hearing. 
But whether we pass from inanimate to animate matter, 
and watch the motions of the living, the chain is still 
unbroken. Man is not an isolated being, independent 
of the earth's action. Nay, dust he is and unto dust 
he must return. His body possesses elements in com- 
mon with the earth and in its ratio of proximity har- 
monizes with the mother of all flesh. Without air and 
water man cannot survive. The ear can only hear 
and the eye can*only see in concert with organized 
nature, the great principles involved in the government 



SS ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

of the one, are manifest in the other. If then Philos- 
ophy has demonstrated the existent forces of the earth 
to be electric or galvanic, common inference without an 
examination into the human system, would irrisistibly 
suggest the residence of like forces in the body ; and 
that play of principles, that resolves the particles of the 
one, in their varied transmutations, is but a modifi- 
cation of those that continue life in health, and all but 
a link in the same chain that binds an atom and a 
universe. 

We come now, briefly, to consider the nature of the 
human brain, and we prefer to give the acknowledged 
views of the most distinguished physiologists, as our 
inferences will be drawn from their premises. 

The term brain designates those parts of the nervous 
system, exclusive of the nerves themselves, which 
are contained within the cranium or skull bones. 
They are the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla oblon- 
gata. These are invested, and protected by mem- 
branes. The whole together constitute the encephalon 
from the Greek en, in, and kephale, head. 

The brain is of a pulpy character, quite soft in 
infancy and childhood, but it gradually becomes more 
and more consistent and at middle life it assumes the 
form of determinate structure and arrangement. It is 
more abundantly supplied with blood than any other 
part of the system, about, one-sixth of all the blood goes 
to supply the brain, yet it is not more than one-thirtieth 
of the whole body. 

The brain is regarded by Physiologists and Philoso- 
phers as the organ of the mind. Most writers consider 
it as an aggregate of parts each charged with specific 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 89 

functions and that these functions are the highest and 
most*important in the animal economy. To the large 
brain or cerebral lobes they ascribe the seat of the faculties 
of thinking, memory and the will. To the cerebellum 
or little brain the seat of the animal or lower propensities. 

The constant relation between mental power and 
developement of brain explains why capacities and 
dispositions are so different, and shows incontrovertably 
that the cultivation of the moral and intellectual facul- 
ties can be successfully carried on only by acting in 
obedience to the laws of organization. 

The brain likewise holds an important relation to 
all the other organs of the system. To the muscular 
system it imparts an influence which induces contract 
tions of the fibres. By this relation they are brought 
under the control of the will. The digestive, respira- 
tory and circulatory apparatus are enabled to perform 
their functions, by the influence imparted to them by the 
cerebral organs of the nervous system. 

As the different organs of the system are dependent 
on the brain and spinal cord for efficient functional ac- 
tion, and as the mind and brain are closely associated 
during life, the former acting in strict obedience to 
the laws which regulate the latter, it becomes an ob- 
ject of primary importance in education to discover 
what these laws are, that we may yield them willing 
obedience, and escape the numerous evils consequent 
on their violation. 

The evils arising from excessive or ill-timed exer- 
cise of the brain or any of its parts, are numerous and 
equally at variance with the ordinary laws of physiolo- 
gy. When we use the eye too long or in too bright a 



90 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

light, it becomes bloodshot. The increased action of 
its vessels and nerves, gives rise to a sensation of fatigue 
and pain, requiring us to desist. If we relieve the eye, 
the irritation gradually subsides and the healthy state 
returns. But if we continue to look intently or resume 
our employment before the eye has regained its natural 
state of repose, the irritation at last becomes permanent 
and disease is followed by weakness of vision, or even 
blindness may ensue. 

Phenomena precisely analogous occur from intense 
mental excitement, if the brain is kept long in a state 
of excessive activity. Sir Astley Cooper, on ex- 
amining the head of a young man brought to him who 
had lost a portion of his skull, just above the eye-brow, 
says, " I distinctly saw that the pulsation of the brain 
was regular and slow, but at this time he was agitated 
by some opposition to his wishes and directly the blood 
was sent with increased force to the brain and the pul- 
sations became frequent and violent." Indeed in 
many instances the increased circulation in the brain 
attendant on high mental excitement reveals itself, 
when least expected, and leaves traces after death, 
which are very perceptible. When tasked beyond its 
strength, the eye becomes insensible to light and no 
longer conveys any impression to the mind. In like 
manner, the brain when much exhausted becomes in- 
capable of thought, and conciousness is almost lost in a 
feeling of utter confusion. If study or composition be 
ardently engaged in towards midnight, the increased 
action or motion of the brain, which always accompa- 
nies activity of mind, requires a long time in which to 
subside. 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 91 

Now what does all this mean? These are princi- 
ples acknowledged by most physiologists, and as yet 
nothing contrary to these views has been discovered. 
Here they speak of action, or motion of the brain, a 
vascular excitement always accompanying mental ac- 
tivity, intense mental action producing so great motion 
as to injure the structure of the brain. The compari- 
son above spoken of between the eye and the brain; 
the case cited by Sir Astley Cooper, are so palpably de- 
monstrative of a cerebral motion accompanying mental 
action, that to dwell longer on this part of the subject 
would be a needless task. Many points in the pre- 
ceding' extracts will be passed over without notice in 
connexion with the Philosophy of Impressions, they 
being left to the suggestions of the reader. 

Now then if thought produces motion, atomic mo- 
tion of the brain, that motion is in concert with thought 
as much so, as the vibration of a string to a given par- 
ticular note. The brain may indeed be compared to 
a harp; the mind, the performer, whose touch on its 
delicate strings, produces vibrations that result in 
thought, which may be termed the music or language 
of the soul. Derange the cords of this delicate instru- 
ment by sickness, or otherwise, and the mental tone 
will vary with its tencion or looseness; embracing every 
variety of morbid mental phenomena, whether wit- 
nessed in the ravings of the maniac, or seen in the fat- 
uous play of the idiot. 

Take a circular brass plate, about eighteen inches in 
circumference, and one-twelfth of an inch in thickness 
of a smooth surface, supported at its centre, by a brass 
rod, and the rod connected with a pedestal of wood. 



92 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

A square plate may be used, supported in like man- 
ner. Now sprinkle black sand upon either plate, then 
take hold of the brass rod with the left hand in such a 
manner as to allow the thumb to press against any 
part of the plate from the centre to the circumference. 
Then by drawing a well rosined bow on the side of the 
plate, the vibrations thus given to the plate and modi- 
tied by the pressure of the thumb, will cause the parti- 
cles of sand to arrange themselves with mathematical 
precision in figures varying, according to the ingenuity 
and skill of the operator, in shifting his thumb and 
drawing the bow. The experiment was first made by 
a German philosopher. 

The same harmony may be supposed to exist in the 
higher organization of matt r, but in a higher degree, 
and an infinite variety of developement, arid that the 
mind discriminates the difference of vibration. In 
music the single string had virtually no new sound, 
posssessing only originally the capacity for vibration, 
but it required a Paganini to bring out the harmony 
and^variety of its sound, so with the human brain, 
great occasions bring out extraordinary developements 
of human mind. 

The continued exercise of the mind in one particu- 
lar direction excites of necessity a special cerebral mo- 
tion and renders that portion of the brain more easily 
set in motion. The miser, by constantly exercising 
his acquisitiveness at last can think of, and adore no- 
thing but his mammon. The imaginative and credu- 
lous mind can easily be made to see, " things that are 
not to be seen." Ghosts are seen upon this principle, 
the darkness of the night, the indistinctness of objects, 



ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 93 

the stillness, all conspire to produce a passiveness of 
brain, save that of credenciveness, till finally the cere- 
bral action becomes so intense as at last to present the 
mental picture of a ghost, or give properties to vision, 
that clothe a post, a bush, a tree, in habiliments of the 
grave; and the longer and more intent the individual 
looks, the more accurately can he define its propor- 
tions. 

We are also to infer from the premises, and indeed 
all experience goes to prove, that the impressions 
of one, are likely to become the impressions of the 
many, under similar circumstances, and also that the 
mind has the power of originating motion from within, 
or receiving it from without, that is to say there is a 
motion from within and a motion from without, by 
which impressions are given and received or prevented. 
What was it that spread the epilepsy in the school 
spoken of by Boerhaave. The first boy that fell down 
in a fit, at once arrested the attention of the other boys. 
The brain became passive, and soon the motions of 
the epileptic boy, excited corresponding motions *in 
another, a fit followed, and so it continued, one after 
another, until Boerhaave set up a counter motion in the 
minds of the rest, more powerful than the existing im- 
pression, by declaring he would thrust a red hot poker 
through the leg of the next boy taken. Here then is 
a remarkable example of the impressions or motions of 
the one affecting the rest in like manner, also of one 
motion from without, exciting another from within, 
which resisted or overcame the epileptic impression. 

How is it in the swoon or faint, arising from witness- 
ing a surgical operation. The surgeon's mind is so 



94 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

occupied, that the action is from within, an internal 
cerebral action in conceit with mental activity, which 
so controls the force of circumstances surrounding him 
as sometimes to cause even the screams of (he patient 
not to be heard by him. An interesting anecdote is 
related of Dr. Physic, while performing a capital 
operation. The patient screamed most lustily, and 
heaped innumerable imprecations on him, until the 
limb was amputated and the wound dressed, when 
the Doctor very innocently asked of the spectators, if 
the patient had made any noise. Not so, however, is 
it with the looker on in these cases. Here the brain 
becomes passive, for want of thought; the writhings of 
the subject, the gaping wound; the spouting blood 
find a brain prepared to respond, and hence the feel- 
ings of horror and faint. Here then the action is from 
without, inwards, and no counter-motion from an ac- 
tive brain to reverse and modify it. 

That continued exercise of the mind in one particu- 
lar direction, of which we have spoken, in exciting a 
special cerebral action; thus rendering that portion of 
the brain more easily set in motion, may account for 
many of those curious and interesting cases termed the 
wanderings of the mind in death. " Dr. Armstrong,' ' 
we are told, "died delivering medical precepts; Napo- 
leon fought some battle o'er again, and the last words 
he muttered were tete d'armes; Lord Tenterden, who 
passed straight from the judgement seat to his death- 
bed, fancied himself still presiding at trial, and expired 
with Cl Gentlemen of the jury, you will consider your 
verdict." Dr. Adam, author of the i Roman Antiqui- 
ties ' imagined himself in school, distributing praise and 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 95 

censure among his pupils: 'But it is growing dark,' 
he said, 'the boys may dismiss '—and instantly died. 
The physician, soldier, judge, schoolmaster had each 
their thoughts on their several professions, and believed 
themselves engaged in the business of life, when life 
itself was issuing out through their lips. Whether 
such words are always evidence of internal concious- 
ness may admit of a doubt. The mind is capable of 
pursuing a beaten track without attending to its own 
operations, and the least impulse will set it going when 
every other power has fled. De Lagny was asked 
the square of twelve when he was unable to recognise 
his friends about his bed, and mechanically answered 
' one hundred and forty-four.' — Repetitions of poetry 
are frequent in this condition, and there is usually a 
want of coherence and intonation which appears to in- 
dicate a want of intelligence, and leaves the conviction 
expressed by Dr. Symonds, that the understanding is 
passive." 

The only rational conclusion, therefore that we can 
arrive at, is that the active and passive conditions of 
the brain constitute the great secret of man's impressi- 
bility. His condition may be dependent either on a 
voluntary or involuntary cessation of thought, or the 
force of surrounding circumstances, controlling and 
neutralising the existing motion. But some deny the 
power of impressions, and declare man cannot be in- 
fluenced by man. He that makes the assertion, how- 
ever, knows but little of his own character. He is but 
a tyro in the knowledge of human nature and the 
workings of an active brain. All history goes to prove 
the converse, both sacred and profane. Were not the 



96 ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

prophets stoned, the saints imprisoned and a Savior 
slain by the influence of a few turbulent and wicked 
spirits over the multitudes of their devotees? Did not 
Alexander conquer Asia; Caesar over throw the Re- 
public of Rome, and Napoleon become the terror of 
Europe, by impressing their followers with a portion 
of the ambitious fire that burned within their own 
mighty minds? Was not the voice of Demosthenes, 
that is, the influence of the impressions he made, more 
powerful than the armies of Greece ? How often has 
the burning eloquence of patriotism turned aside the 
hydra-headed monster of sedition, anarchy and dis- 
union, and saved the state from impending dissolu- 
tion. 

Man not influenced or impressed by man! The 
biological experiment by which you arrest and con- 
trol the thoughts of your subject, so that you seat 
him and he cannot rise, is no more a stretch of power, 
than that influence which causes the people to rise 
in mass and steep their hands in the blood of the inno- 
cent. Did reason hold her sway, it would not be thus ? 
Did sober second thought prevail, the mob-spirit would 
die away ? 

Man not influenced! Whence the turbulence of 
Demagogueism, or the ravings of fanaticism? Does 
not the one appeal to popular prejudice, to work out 
selfish ends, and succeed? Does not the other con- 
taminate the ears of those who listen, by trampling 
under foot the simplest dictates of common sense? 
Was ever sentiment more forcibly set forth than that 
of Byron, 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 97 

Religion, freedom, vengeance what you will, 
A word's enough to raise mankind to kill ; 
Some party phrase by cunning caught and spread, 
That guilt may reign and wolves and worms be fed 

The Doctrine of Impressions runs parallel with 
man's existence, and as it was witnessed in the first 
creation — Adam, so will it be seen until the end, 
whereof is eternity. 



LECTURE VI. 

Object of sitting. — Negative state of mind. — Portions of the brain 
magnetized. — Anecdote of the Irishman and Indian. — The 
magnetic state but a fragment of Impressions. — Mesmerism. 
Clairvoyance. — Miracles. 

Electricity is often made visible in the motions of 
matter, and when we speak of motion, as concerned in 
producing certain phenomena, we mean certain elec- 
trical conditions. <( A great body of facts/' says Sir 
James Mcintosh, lc might be adduced to show, that all 
animal motion may be traced to electrical action." 
Motion and thought in the mind, seem to be as in- 
separable, as motion and temperature in physics, and 
motion may be resolved into the electrical conditions 
of attraction and repulsion. The object therefore of 
sitting is, to tranquilize the mind, to force the brain 
to leave off its action and bring it to a state of unity 
and passiveness. By action is meant, motion, that ato- 
mic cerebral motion, which is always accompanied 
with an electrical expenditure. When an individual 
maintains a perfect passiveness of the brain and a still- 
ness of the muscles, there is in the system an accumu- 
lation of the electric or vital fluids, which are constant- 
ly evolved by the chemical and other changes silently 
going on, else why the use of sleep and rest to the 
wearied brain and limbs. Why not perpetual thought, 
incessant labor, never ending toil? 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. * 99 

In the formation of the body, there is also the ut- 
most care taken for its retention by the perfect and 
wonderful insulation displayed, which retention is 
without doubt intended to subserve the higher powers 
of nature — the mental manifestations, sensations and 
voluntary motions, whose action is always accom- 
panied with electrical waste. That motion of the brain 
produces thought, we have abundant evidence. What 
is it, that causes delirium in fevers, but the increased 
arterial excitement producing a too great atomic cere- 
bral motion? What surer method of causing restless- 
ness, than to get the mind excited before retiring to rest ? 
To lay and revolve difficult and abstruse subjects, is to 
set up an action in the brain that does not readily subside, 
and the vibrations thus produced, often in spite of all 
efforts to prevent it, keep up thought, and that thought 
again reacts and keeps up motion in the brain even 
after apparent and partial sleep has supervened, giving 
rise to dreams, disturbed sleep, and frightful images 
flitting across the imagination. 

A most remarkable example, illustrative of this part 
of the subject, is related by Dr. Gregory, who has no 
doubt of its correctness. The person alluded to was 
an officer of distinction, and his companions were in the 
habit of amusing themselves at his expense. " Thev 
could produce in him any kind of dream, by whispering 
in his ear, especially if this was done by a friend, with 
whose voice he was familiar. At one time they con- 
ducted him through the whole progress of a quarrel 
which ended in a duel ; and when the parties were 
supposed to be met, a pistol was put in his hand, 



100 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

which he fired, and was awakened by the report. On 
another occasion they found him asleep on the top of 
a locker or bunker in the cabin, when they made him 
believe he had fallen overboard, and exhorted him to 
save himself by swimming; he immediately imitated all 
the motions of swimming; they told him, that a shark 
was pursuing' him, and entreated him to dive for his 
life; he instantly did so with such force as to throw 
himself entirely from the locker on the cabin floor, by 
which he was much bruised, and awakened of course." 
This case illustrates two very important points; first, 
that the whispering in his ear, excited vibrations in 
the auditory nerves,that these vibrations communicated 
motion to the brain, and that the atomic motion thus 
set up in the brain gave rise to the dreams, otherwise 
thoughts; secondly, their being able to produce cuty 
kind of dream when the voice was familiar, shows fur- 
ther that the words must be intelligible, in order to 
produce I he desired impression on the mngneiized sub- 
ject, That a perfect stiffness and passiveriess of the 
person, who may wish to he Operated on, is required, 
must now be apparent. A whisper in the room may 
produce a vibration on the auditory nerve, and that 
vibration awaken motion in the brain, by consequence 
thought and an electrical waste, which may frustrate 
the object io be obtained — a cerebro-galvanic accumu- 
lation or negative state of mind, a state absolutely pre- 
requisite to a successful performance of biological ex- 
periments. In impressible subjects (his state will gen- 
erally be induced in from fifteen to twenty minutes, 
and the operator should not wait longer, but go up to 
hissiibjecf, remove (he magnetic buHon, gently take him 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 101 

by the hand, and operate as before directed; being care- 
ful to remember what has been said about motion of the 
brain being the result of thought, and vice versa. 

Lan^ua<xe is the common stimulus between man 
and man, but not the only one, by which to convey 
his ideas. Gesture may he termed mute language, 
and is often as expressive as spoken. An assertion, 
in the negative state alluded to, has a magic effect. A 
thing is positively asserted, and that assertion becomes a 
reality to the passive brain of the subject, for it should 
be borne in mind, that the brain is perfectly passive or 
motionless, and by necessity thoughtless; it is, as it were, 
a perfect blank; all former images and impressions be- 
ing, temporarily blotted out of the memory by the 
accumulation of the electrical agent, as figures in 
wax are softened down by heat and made ready to 
receive new forms and shapes, or as an unblotted sheet, 
ready to receive in legible characters the (i thoughts 
that breathe and words that burn," or the unspotted 
canvass the glowing image of the painter. The as- 
sertion, therefore, vibrating the connecting medium be- 
tween the external and internal existence through 
the ear, produces exact and regular vibrations in the 
auditory nerve, consequently an atomic cerebral mo- 
tion, sui generis ^ with the assertion; that motion in 
turn produces thought; that thought, the result of the 
assertion, and hence but an echo, of the one first having 
its existence in the mind of the operator. The sub- 
ject thus becomes wholly obedient to external forces, 
and cannot, by any possibility, correct or control the 
impressions made upon his brain, until it so far returns 



1 02 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

to its normal state, as to originate thought of its own, 
wherewith to combat the assertion of the operator. 

Portions of the brain may become magnetic or nega- 
tive, while others remain in a normal state, or are but 
partially charged. The operator will, therefore, fail in 
some experiments, no matter how hard he may try, 
yet succeed with the greatest ease in others; thus he 
may not be able to close the eyes, the simplest and 
generally the first experiment, yet will succeed in fas- 
tening his subject to the floor, changing the taste of 
water, wine, &c. If two violins, tuned precisely alike, 
are placed in a room, a tune played upon one, will 
be breathed upon the strings of the other with the ut- 
most exactitude. But if three strings only of the second 
are tuned like the first, the fourth will give discordant 
notes. Now the brain of the individual may be com- 
pared to the tuned violin, and the sound, to the voice 
of the operator, producing that cerebral motion, that 
produces thought, and that thought the same as the 
operator's, when emanating from the magnetized por- 
tions of the brain, but discordant when from the un- 
magnetized. The sound to have its effect, must be in- 
telligible to the subject, as our ideas have come to us 
through this medium, and we have learned to discrimi- 
nate by variations of sound, what is meant by the in? 
dividual addressing us. What is intelligible to one, 
therefore, may not be so to another. Much may be 
said of gesture, which may be termed the universal 
language of nature. The subject, being in full pos- 
session of the power of vision, will imitate gestures, ex- 
pressive of anguish, joy or fear, as perfectly as if 
the vibrations of the connecting medium were stirred 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 1 03 

by the language of sound. The following anecdote 
of an Irishman and an Indian, is a most ludicrous ex- 
ample of Impressions in which the sounds were only 
seemingly intelligible. An Irishman, meeting an In- 
dian one morning, said to him, " The top of the morn- 
ing to ye." The Indian replied in his own vernacular 
something like " We see you," (how are you.) " You 
see me, ha! and be Jabers, I see you," responded (he 
son of Erin somewhat sharply. The Indian again 
said, u Skine ke neck," meaning you are a bad man. 
u Skin me neck, will ye," says the Irishman, "you 
blasted Ingin, I'll skin your neck," and with the words 
commenced belaboring him. The Indian now said, 
li Nock a wah," that is u Quit." u Knock away,1ia! 
and be Jabers I will," and he continued to deal him 
the blows. 

The magnetic state induced by the common mode 
of sittings, is insignificant, when compared to other 
states. It is but a fragment of the doctrine of Impres- 
sions, a link only of the great electric chain, very small 
indeed, yet illustrative of an important and all pervading 
principle in society. The magnetic button and the 
operator are significant of the drama of life — an object 
to concentrate and a stimulus to propel. Mobs have 
their lise and run their terrible career on the samepiin- 
ciple. The blazing torch, the axe, the bludgeon, the 
crowd, may be the rrfagnetic button. These negative 
the brain, thought is arrested or directed to one parti- 
cular thing, so absorbing, that other portions become 
passive, that is, the motions of the mob soon occupy 
alone the thoughts of the beholder; every thing eke is 
forgotten; and it requires great moral stamina to resist 



104 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

the influence. The dread cholera not unfrequently ne- 
gatives the mind by the funeral pall, the habiliments 
of mourning, and suspension of business. Inaction or 
passiveness follows, and the patient is easily impressed 
with " fear and trembling," by the great Impressor. 
He sinks and dies, more through the terror of its name, 
than the reality of its pangs. 

A remarkable case of Impression or fascination oc- 
curred to a gentleman residing near Republic, Ohio, 
who believed in the charming of snakes. He, to con- 
vince a friend, accordingly repaired one day to a neigh- 
boring wood, and it was not long before they found a 
copperhead. He told his friend to stand back and 
watch the process, and when he discovered that the 
snake had fascinated him, and he began to approach it, 
to interfere and release him from so dangerous a 
charmer. He fixed his eyes on the snake for about 
twenty minutes, he became perfectly fascinated and 
began to approach the snake, when his friend stepped 
in to the rescue. How tin's was brought about, can 
be easily accounted for. The snake served the pur- 
pose of the magnetic button, and his keeping his eyea 
fixed upon it rendered all other portions of his brain 
passive, save that of faith, and thus he became very 
easily impressed or charmed. Who is there, that after 
listening 

"To many a tale of fairy and of sprite," 
has not had his mind -negatived by the darkness and 
loneliness of a midnight excursion, and looked hither 
and thither, with the expectation of seeing a hobgoblin 
or a ghost; yet who has not dissipated every fear by 
humming a tune or whistling a lively air, thus creating 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 105 

excitement in the brain and motion in the mind, of a 
different character. 

Mesmerism. The practical utility of this subject 
seems to be very doubtful, and this is believed to be 
the sentiment of nineteen-tvventieths of those who have 
investigated it. That numerous and startling pheno- 
mena have been produced by the manipulations of its 
advocates is not denied; but those phenomena may 
have been the result of an occult cause, and that cause, 
as has been shown, resident in the mind of the subject. 
The mesmerizer and looker on, seeing effects follow 
the apparent cause, look upon them a3 the all-pervading 
principle. Let us suppose their ideas to be correct, 
where is the practicability of it? In acting upon 
masses you cannot paw the air, and your will, silently 
expressed, will be as puerile as a whisper in a dead 
man's ear. Apply it to the removal of disease, and 
who are the subjects benefited by its use, but those in 
whom the same results would have been produced by 
any of the aforementioned agencies, under favorable 
circumstances. If the remarkable cures effected by 
these manipulations be adduced as evidence of the 
theory, then charms, chants, exorcisms and amulets 
are equally entitled to litigate the ground assumed, for 
these all, have achieved, whatever can be claimed by 
the followers of Mesmer. 

Take the subject upon whom you wish to operate, 
stand behind him, and by an effort of the will alone, at- 
tempt to influence him, and you will have little or no 
effect. Then try simply an assertion or a gesture, and 
it will be magical. You have already been told, how 
an assertion or a gesture acts, but mesmerizers believe 



106 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

that a fluid emanates from the operator and goes into 
the body of the mesmerized, and many of them have 
even felt weakened after operating. But who is it 
that hard work will not weaken, especially when he 
believes it ? The operator has even sometimes gone to 
sleep himself in attempting to put his subject to sleep. 
This has always been accounted for, by saying that 
the subject was too strong — when in truth the mesmer- 
izer permitted his brain to become still or passive first, 
and hence first impressed. 

What has been said of Mesmerism is equally appli- 
cable to Clairvoyance. That such a state does exist 
to a certain degree, and that there are individuals 
who can be put into this state, or rather, who by a 
combination of circumstances surrounding them, go 
into the clairvoyant state, is not denied ; indepen- 
dent, however, it is believed, of the will or mind of 
the operator, and that when a clairvoyant becomes 
so, it is in consequence of a principle existing and 
acting entirely within himself. He is impressed 
through a higher degree of the same medium, or 
an extension of the principle by which it has been 
contended, that biological experiments have been per- 
formed. Prom some peculiar circumstances, the sub- 
ject becomes so exceedingly magnetic, as to be in 
equilibrio with the surrounding medium. 

Remember, that thought produces motion of the 
brain, if motion then an impression on the connecting 
medium, hence an impression and motion, correspond- 
ing in the brain of the subject. Independent clairvoy- 
ance is loaded with the difficulty of assertion and ques- 
tion of the operator, and that assertion and question 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 107 

awaken motion, and that motion results in producing 
erroneous conclusions. Hence such a state of mind 
must be looked upon, as wholly impracticable in its 
nature, as the peaks of the Andes or Appenines, in the 
physical world, are for the residence of man, — regions of 
perpetual snow and ice, too cold for his existence, and 
unfit even for the erection of an observatory. So with 
Clairvoyance in the moral world, yet some enthusiasts 
go so far as to pretend to examine by its means, planets, 
moons and stars, and have even laid impious hands upon 
the land of spirits, where mortal ken knoweth not. 

Many amusing accounts of their discoveries might 
be given, yet the reader is referred to the many works 
extant on the subject. Some have ingeniously argued 
that in this state a man could read through the top or 
back of his head, as well as through the eyes; that see- 
ing by magnetic light, and magrfelism knowing no in- 
sistence, therefore the subject could see. The beauti- 
ful and classic writer Dodd has fallen into the same er- 
ror. For although the premises be admitted, the in- 
ference is gratuitous. He argues from the oft repeated 
experiment, that if a piece of silver be placed under the 
upper lip, and a piece of zinc upon the tongue — the 
eyes being closed and the metals made to touch, a flash 
of light will be visible. This, therefore, says he, is 
proof positive (hat light is communicated to the brain 
by galvanic action, that here the individual sees light 
without eyes, and hence that a person can see as well 
through the top of his head, by the same agency. Yet 
these adepts in spirituality should remember, that the 
infra-orbitor nerve which spreads out largely upon the 
upper lip, becomes inducted by the action of the me- 



108 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY, 

tals, and lying close in contact with the optic nerve, 
inducts it. A blow over the eyes, will cause a flash of 
light to be seen; even closing the eyes, so that no 
external light can be perceived, and rubbing them pret- 
ty hard with the knuckles will cause a succession of 
bright sparks to be seen, yet a blow on the top of the 
head, or rubbing it with the knuckles, will only be pro- 
ductive of pain without the benefit of the light. It 
might upon the same principle be argued by these most 
sapient philosophers, that because the blow over the 
eyes causes a flash of light, ergo, any thing can be seen 
through the top or back of the head. So far, however, 
from this being so, it can be explained only on the ra- 
tional principle, that the eyes, being made for light, can 
only convey their impressions to the brain, through gal- 
vanic action, whether excited by the great luminary of 
day, by the blow over the eyes, or the contact of the 
metals, while the top of the head being made for other 
purposes, can convey no such impressions. 

Materialists and others, pulled up with arrogance and 
pride, have laid hold of the science we teach and the 
experiments we perform to disprove the divine mission 
of the Saviour, and to explain away the miracles he 
wrought to exemplify the teachings of his gospel. We 
have often been asked to lecture on the subject, by 
such; but whoever thinks the premises justify the in- 
ference, is deeply, blindly and ignorantly, if not wil- 
lingly deluded. Whoever thus thinks to equal him- 
self to God, will find himself overwhelmed perhaps too 
late, in his own nothingness, for (i vengeance belongs 
to him," a who can create and who destroy," and he 
will visit it sooner or later on those who disobey. The 



ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 1 09 

difference between an Impression of Deity and that of 
man is vastly great. Man was so constituted in the 
beginning, it is true, as to be made the ruler over the 
earth, yet subject to its influences. To become its in- 
habitant, it was requisite that there should be certain 
relations established between them. His physical or- 
ganization was, therefore, made in harmony with the 
primal forces by which it was made and moved and 
still is governed. By a combination or aggregation of 
particles, man was moulded by the plastic hand of 
Deity. Each particle that entered into the mass, car- 
ried with it that principle, that redeemed it from chaos, 
and made it organic. When these particles were thus 
aggregated and made into that shape, denominated man, 
they were still obedient to the primitive forces in the 
aggregate. Had Deity stopped here, that beautiful fa- 
bric, by purely chemical laws, would soon have been 
resolved into its pristine elements, as witnessed now in 
the body, when the spirit has fled. Deity spiritualized 
that organization and endowed it with a kind of self- 
creative power, thus in a degree overcoming the re- 
solving agencies by the mysterious process of secretion 
and deposit of living matter. 

All his impressions, therefore, whether from within 
or without, must grow out of the relation already 
alluded to. The eye was made for light, the ear for 
sound, infinite as sound may be, in fact, the capacity 
of every sense was predisposed for the perception of its 
peculiar office, so that man cannot go beyond his na- 
tural aptitude. He cannot create a new principle or 
awaken a new motion, either in organized or unorgan- 
ized matter. His mental organization is such, too, 



1 10 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 

that he becomes subject to the moral influence of spirit, 
and though mind has an ascendency over, and takes 
cognizance of the motions of matter, and matter be- 
comes living organized existence under the influence of 
spirit, yet cannot he make it assume new forms and 
shapes and entities at his will, but is only allowed to 
carry out the fiat of the " Great I Am," who, as was 
stated in a former lecture, at the creation established 
certain laws and certain agencies, to work out these 
laws to the end of time. 

Man must therefore obey the primal forces; while 
God the author and originator of all motion, either in 
materiality or immateriality, can at any time arrest 
or modify existing laws or motions, and create others 
anew whensoever it pleaseth his wisdom, his goodness 
or his mercy to do so. 

The birth of ourSaviour, is strictly in consonance with 
the divine character, but not altogether with natural or 
physical law s as established at the creation. It is itself 
a miracle, the greatest, best and most sublime ever pre- 
sented to the faith of man. In order to fulfil hisdivine 
mission properly, it became necessary for Christ — the 
personation of the mysterious connexion between mind 
and matter, to appear in material form, and if in such 
form, of course in obedience to the highest principle 
governing organized existence. Man, therefore, was 
that form, because he is more delicately and highly or- 
ganized than any other animal. Christ, being co-eter- 
nal with the Father — the cause of ail motion, was the 
author of self-organization. Had he come into the 
world, as the real son of Joseph, according to the exist- 
ing laws of matter, he could never have established his 



ELECTRO BIOLOGY. 1 [ 1 

divine character. He then would have been the result 
of circumstances already determined, and hence no 
more than any other man, just as an acorn falls into 
the ground, springs up and becomes the majestic oak, 
obedient to a combination of causes that preceded 
its formation. His birth being of man according to 
nature, he would only have been a man, but being 
Deity, it became necessary to have an extraordinary 
conception according to spirit. That he had power 
over matter thus to create himself, as man, we are 
forced to admit. His whole life is a volume of testimo- 
ny. " I have power to lay down my life" says he, 
w and I have power to take it up again," and he con- 
firmed his words whenever it was required by such 
acts as no mortal hand had done or could ever do. 

This brief outline of the great Incarnation is here 
given for the purpose of illustrating the difference be- 
tween the miracles of Christ and the phenomena of 
our experiments. We have been charged with advo- 
cating principles we disavow and which do not grow 
out of the premises. We are asked if the Saviour did 
not work his miracles by the same power? If he did, 
why did not his disciples do the same prior to his con- 
ferring an especial power? Why cannot man raise the 
dead and " make the lame to walk, the blind to see, 
the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear," by the magic 
words " Thy sins are forgiven thee," or " arise, take 
up thy bed and walk." What, therefore, is the issue ? 
Go back to the first principle, that man can know no- 
thing of matter, except by his organization, or the har- 
mony between the external and internal perception. 
For example, the difference of color depends on the 



1 i 2 ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

amount of vibrations, the retina is stimulated to. If 
the object be red, it is because of so many vibrations, if 
blue or any other color, of so many. Here is percep- 
tion from motion, and dependent upon the result for 
certain amounts of that motion. Taste is another 
sense, less delicate than sight, but capable of infinity 
of variations, according to the kind or quality of sub- 
stances applied to the tongue. Each sense subserves 
its purpose, and man can administer to each, to a cer- 
tain degree, to make things pleasant or unpleasant — 
and each degree the result of a certain vibration. But 
man cannot so change the nature of things, as to taste 
with the eyes or see with the tongue, or smell with the 
ears, because he has not the power to set up in a dif- 
ferent organ the peculiarity of motion required to con- 
vey the sensation to the brain and perception to the 
mind. Suppose, therefore, we admit that Christ did 
perform his miracles upon the principles of Biology, it 
takes nothing from his divine power. Man, we have 
seen, can modify motion, sensation and perception to a 
certain degree, but thus far can he go, and no farther; 
w r hereas, Deity being the author of motion has power 
to change any sense at pleasure, to suspend motion 
altogether, or give us the impression of color, through 
the tongue as well as the eye. It is true that the oper- 
ator can, by words, that is by assertion, when he has 
a proper subject, take away, change and reverse for 
the time being, any of the senses; he can give his sub- 
ject water and make him think it wine, or brandy, and 
even get drunk upon it; he can change sticks into 
snakes, take away all feeling so that you might ampu- 
tate a limb without pain, yet he cannot raise the dead 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 113 

as Christ, did Lazarus, after putrefaction had taken 
place, nor feed the multitude of live thousand, with 
three loaves and two fishes, so that all were satisfied. 
Here then was a power displayed not accorded to 
man, by nature as established at the creation, but by 
the hand of mercy, given to a chosen few, by Immanuei 
himself, conferred upon his disciples. The incarnate 
son of Joseph, was therefore more than man, in viiiue 
of his heavenly origin. You may call the principle, 
by which the miracles were wrought, the same by 
which operators perform their wonders, if you please, 
or rather an extension of that principle, yet the exer- 
cise of it is a power, reserved alone to be used at the 
discretion of Deity, for the vindication of his power, 
wisdom and mercy. 

But miracles are only relative. God works to him- 
self no miracles absolutely; they are only so to us. A 
miracle is something beyond the power of man, some- 
thing out of the regular order of nature. The estab- 
lishment of that very order of nature, the creation 

every thing in exisience, is a miracle lo us: to God 
nothing is. He can as easily arrest or modify the law 
7iov), at his pleasure, as he could make it at the begin- 
ning, when he said " let there be light and there was 
light." The principle by which man displays his 
power, was implanted in his bosom, when the divine 
agency created Adam and breathed into him the 
breath of life. He does by artificial means influence, 
awaken and rouse it into action, but that action, neces- 
sarily begins and ends in man; while that action or 
miracle beginning in Deity, awakens motion, as in 



[ 1 4 ELECTRO - BIOLOGY. 

chaos, and the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead 
are raised to life. 

But how is this science to be made useful? To 
the physician it is invaluable, not only as giving him 
an insight into the modus operandi and effect of the 
medicine he administers to the body, but. also that, 
which is administered to the soul. How often has the 
long and solemn visage, (he knowing look, the mysteri- 
ous shake of the head, the doubtful expression, at 
once sent a chill to the heart of the patient, and 
thrown a saddening gloom over the attendants, which 
in turn reacted and caused death, rather from the im- 
pression of the individual and his friends that he 
rhust die, than the actual violence of the disease. 
How many cases have we not cited and how many 
thousand more might we not give of deaths caused 
by fear, despair, fright, and the impression that it was 
inevitable, as was the case with the man under the 
guillotine, when the wet towel was applied to his neck. 
What a picture does the reverse present; of elevating 
sentiments, of hope and joy and faith that ''removes 
mountains," not to say disease. How often has not the 
cheerful smile, the encouraging look, the hopeful 
words of the attendant, inspired a confidence that over- 
came disease and resulted in cure. To the messengers 
of peace — the bearers of " glad tidings of great joy" 
to erring mortality, and those " learned in the Law," 
it is a source cf never failing success. To business 
men in every department of life, the fascinating power 
with which they impress their own ideas upon others, 
is the grand secret of their prosperity. In the exposi- 
tion of truth and the detection and exposure of Hum- 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY. 115 

buggery, it is the great lever m the hands of truth. It 
points out the secret of sucoess of charmers and en- 
chanters, of fire-blowers and blood-stoppers, (by words) 
of Homcepaihists and Quack Doctors, of fanatics and 
factionists, et id genus omne, and is the only effective 
weapon with which the truly scientific can combat the 
predilections of mankind for such pretenders. But per- 
haps it is in the training and education of youth, where 
its truths are of the most avail, and where its beneficial 
influence can be most judiciously exercised. The 
youthful btain is easily impressed, and by repetition, 
impressions become lasting, either for good or for evil. 
How important, therefore, that those having in charge 
the rearing and education of youth, should well under- 
stand the workings of the mind at that tender age, and 
be careful to set a good example, both by words and 
actions. It is by imitation that the child learns. 
What he perceives by his senses, is impressed upon 
his mind. What he sees and hears, he becomes 
familiar with, and whether it be for good or for evil, 
his habits in after life, will more or less be influenced 
by it. So that it is, at this interesting period of life, 
that the foundation of future greatness and utility or 
obscurity and infamy, is most generally laid. 

The manner in which children are corrected, when 
they have done wrong, requires great consideration, for- 
bearance and patience. Instead of continually impress- 
ing upon them the ideathat they aregood for nothing, by 
such expressions as M you naughty little rascal," " you 
good for nothing fellow, you will never make a man," 
" I'll beat you to death," mild and persuasive means 
should be used to show their reasoning powers wherein 



1 1 6 ELECTRO- BIOLOGY. 

ihe wrong consisted; and the way to avoid it in future, 
pointed out. The evil passions should be soothed and 
lulled to forge If ulness, by exercising the good. By 
continually teliing a child he is good for nothing, he 
at length becomes fully impressed that such is [he fact 9 
and consequently every energy is paralized and every 
hope extinguished. But cheer him up, and inspire 
him with the confidence that he possesses within him- 
self every requisite for greatness, and that although the 
road may seem long and wearisome, yet he has to ad- 
vance but one step at. a time, and there will be a ma- 
gic change, wrought in the {i naughty little rascal," 
no cudgel or cruel treatment could have brought about. 

If our views of the doctrine of impressions be correct, 
then l - like begets like," then anger, impatience, harsh- 
ness and cruelty, must necessarily excite the same in 
those to be corrected, and instead of reversing the evil 
thoughts and impressions or curbing the unruly menial 
emotions, the reverse is the consequence. 

How forcible, therefore, and how important to be 
carried out, does the scripture expression become 
that "if you train up a child in the way he should 
go, he will not depart from it, when he grows old.' 7 



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